The atmosphere of student orientation, classroom dynamics, and campus life from different eras was brought back to life through the PRARAMBHA: The Beginning of UGM Students’ Journey in Visual Archives exhibition held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, organized by Universitas Gadjah Mada Library and Archives. The exhibition served as a reflective space inviting visitors to trace the early journeys of UGM students across generations through historical photo archives and book collections rich in historical value.
The opening ceremony was enlivened by the enthusiastic participation of members of the academic community and visitors who crowded the exhibition area. The visual archives on display attracted attention not only for their historical significance, but also because each collection was accompanied by event dates and photo descriptions that helped visitors understand the context behind each piece of documentation.
The event was hosted by Dinda Ariana Prasetyaningtyas and Aji Bagus Rio Pamungkas as masters of ceremony. In his remarks, the Head of Universitas Gadjah Mada Library and Archives, Arif Surachman, S.I.P., M.B.A., stated that archives are not merely records of the past, but also an essential part of the university’s identity and collective memory.
“This exhibition is our way of bringing back the traces of UGM students’ journeys that may no longer be directly witnessed by today’s generation. Archives have the power to connect the past with the present while also serving as a learning resource for the future,” he said.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Erna Widayati, S.E., M.M. and Yulistiarini Kumaraningrum, S.P., M.M. along with members of the management team and invited guests. As a symbolic gesture marking the official opening of the exhibition, a canvas signing ceremony was conducted by Arif Surachman, S.I.P., M.B.A., Erna Widayati, S.E., M.M., and Yulistiarini Kumaraningrum, S.P., M.M..
In addition to visual archives, PRARAMBHA also presented book collections documenting various UGM student activities across different periods. Visitors were invited to observe how academic life, campus culture, and student traditions have evolved over time.
Visitor interaction became even more engaging through the “Guess the Archive” game session, which encouraged participants to become more familiar with UGM’s archival collections. Enthusiasm was also reflected in the many messages and impressions visitors wrote on the hope canvas prepared by the Universitas Gadjah Mada Library and Archives.
The exhibition also supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education through the provision of access to knowledge and campus historical literacy, as well as SDG 11 on the preservation of cultural heritage and historical documentation as part of community identity.
Through PRARAMBHA, Universitas Gadjah Mada Library and Archives not only presents nostalgia, but also opens an intergenerational dialogue about how student experiences have shaped UGM’s long historical journey. Amid the rapid pace of digitalization, visual archives serve as reminders that every small step taken within the campus environment today may become a meaningful historical footprint in the future.
Contributor: Fadia Iftinan Naifarra