UNS – The Mandarin Language Center (PBM)/Confucius Institute (CI) of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta officially partnered with Perkumpulan Masyarakat Surakarta (PMS). It is a community organization based in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia. Perkumpulan Masyarakat Surakarta (PMS-Surakarta Community Association) actively leads various initiatives to enhance community welfare and foster cultural appreciation in Surakarta. The collaboration focuses on the fields of education and culture. The Cooperation Agreement (PKS) signing ceremony marked PBM UNS’s 6th anniversary. The event took place at the Red Sapphire Room, Solo Paragon Hotel & Residences, on Tuesday (11/3/2025).
Strengthening Collaboration with Key Stakeholders
Prof. Irwan Trinugroho, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, Internationalization, and Information at UNS, signed the agreement. The Head of the Confucius Institute UNS, Prof. Dr. Ir. Ahmad Yunus, M.S., also signed the agreement. Representing PMS were Chairman Sumartono Hadinoto and Secretary Idayanti Santoso.
The event welcomed distinguished guests, including the Head of the Confucius Institute China, Dr. Fan Jie. Also in attendance was Dr. Dwi Susanto, S.S., M.Hum., Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UNS. Prof. Dr. Eng. Ir. Herman Saputro, S.Pd., M.Pd., M.T., Dean of the Vocational School UNS, was present. Heads of the Mandarin Language and Chinese Culture Undergraduate Program and Mandarin Language Diploma Program were also present. There were also the Mandarin Language Coordinator at Universitas Sugeng Hartono, representatives of Bina Widya School, and several guests.
Highlighting PBM UNS’s Achievements
In his speech, Prof. Irwan praised PBM UNS for its remarkable performance. The Centre for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC), the global governing body of Confucius Institutes, recognized this achievement. CLEC acknowledged PBM UNS’s outstanding performance on an international scale.
“Over the past six years, PBM UNS has successfully conducted Mandarin language courses and hosted international conferences. It has also published journals and established teaching centers in partner universities and trilingual schools across Java,” Prof. Irwan stated. “This agreement will further enhance collaboration between Confucius Institute UNS and PMS, benefiting the wider community.”
PMS Chairman, Sumartono Hadinoto, congratulated UNS on its 49th Dies Natalis and PBM UNS on its 6th anniversary. He expressed optimism that this partnership would bridge the gap between the Surakarta community and educational institutions.
“Language is a bridge of civilization. With the increasing interest in Mandarin learning in Indonesia, this collaboration will benefit the younger generation. It will also strengthen cross-cultural understanding,” Sumartono said.
Commitment to Cultural Exchange
Dr. Fan Jie, Head of the Confucius Institute China, welcomed this partnership. She also reaffirmed her dedication to fostering cultural exchange between Indonesia and China.
“I feel honored. Today marks a new chapter in cultural collaboration. The Confucius Institute is committed to promoting Chinese education and culture while serving UNS and the Surakarta community,” she stated.
On this occasion, Prof. Ahmad Yunus expressed hope that PBM UNS would gain wider recognition and actively engage the public in educational and cultural programs.
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The collaboration between PBM UNS and PMS aligns with SDG 4: Quality Education. This initiative aims to expand access to Mandarin language education, enhance cross-cultural communication, and improve individual competencies.
Additionally, the partnership reflects SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, as it strengthens cooperation between educational institutions and community organizations. This synergy supports social harmony and preserves both local and international cultures.
With this agreement, PBM UNS continues to pave the way for global educational excellence and cultural exchange.
HUMAS UNS
