YOGYAKARTA — The English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta hosted a guest lecture titled “English Studies in the Age of AI: From Academic Foundations to Research and Global Scholarship” on Monday–Tuesday, October 19–20, 2026. Held in the Theatrical Room, 1st Floor of the Language Development Center, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, the event featured Dr. David D. Perrodin from Mahidol University, Thailand, to discuss strengthening academic foundations, artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, research methodology, and scholarly publication in the digital era.

The event was hosted by Safrina Mauladi Hanifah and moderated by Sofi Mayla Firdaus. On the first day, the program opened with a performance of the Sirih Kuning dance, followed by welcoming remarks from the Head of the English Literature Study Program, Dr. Ulyati Retno Sari, S.S., M.Hum., and the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences, Dr. Nurul Hak, S.Ag., M.Hum., representing the faculty leadership. The agenda then proceeded with presentations and interactive discussions designed to enhance students' academic capabilities in navigating technological advancements and dynamic global scholarship.

On Monday (Oct 19), first-year English Literature students (Class of 2026) attended a session focused on academic foundations and AI literacy. Dr. Perrodin emphasized that English is not merely studied as a subject, but as a communication tool that unlocks access to knowledge, collaboration, and international academic networks. Critical reading emerged as a vital competence for students to comprehend, evaluate, and utilize information effectively.

During the session, participants were also guided to develop critical thinking skills through the Claim–Evidence–Question approach: identifying claims, examining supporting evidence, and formulating follow-up questions. This approach helps students assess the logical basis of arguments and evaluate source reliability—especially when leveraging AI tools in academic work—rather than accepting information passively.

On Tuesday (Oct 20), the second-day session targeted second- and third-year English Literature students (Classes of 2024 and 2025), focusing on academic writing, research ethics, and scholarly publishing. Dr. Perrodin stressed that high-quality research stems from learning how to ask meaningful questions. Properly formulated research questions serve as the foundation for reviewing literature, selecting methodologies, collecting and analyzing data, and constructing evidence-based arguments.

He also highlighted the necessity of academic integrity at every stage of research. While AI can assist learning and research, its application requires critical awareness, transparency, and responsibility. Furthermore, ethics approval must be secured prior to research commencement whenever required—an essential consideration for students designing studies that involve human participants or sensitive data.

The discussion then addressed writing and publishing in academic journals. Students learned about selecting appropriate journals, drafting manuscripts in a scholarly voice, navigating the peer-review process, and revising work based on reviewer feedback. Dr. Perrodin emphasized that publication is not the end of the research journey, but part of an ongoing process of advancing knowledge, refining ideas, and expanding academic collaboration.

To reinforce learning, the second day included a Research-to-Publication Clinic. In this session, students practiced developing research concepts into mini-abstracts, allowing them to apply the material directly and understand how initial ideas can be structured into focused research plans.

Beyond the formal presentations, interactive sessions provided an engaging learning experience. Communicative delivery and open discussion enabled participants to ask questions and broaden their perspective on the challenges and opportunities of English studies in the AI era. The event concluded on the second day with a presentation of tokens of appreciation and a group photo session.

Through this guest lecture, the English Literature Study Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga aims to prepare students for technological advancements while upholding critical thinking, ethics, and academic integrity. Combining language proficiency, AI literacy, research skills, and an understanding of the publication process will empower students to engage with the global academic community and produce relevant, responsible scholarship. (MF/AR)