UNS — Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta hosted the 2024 Cultural Discussion. The event took place at the G.P.H. Haryo Mataram UNS Auditorium on Tuesday (March 5, 2024), and Wednesday (March 6, 2024), and was expected to be attended by the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Mendikbudristek); the Inspector General of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, also acting as the Acting Rector of UNS, Dr. Chatarina Muliana, S.H., S.E., M.H.; the Director General of Higher Education, Prof. Ir. Nizam, M.Sc., DIC, Ph.D.; the Director of LPDP, Andin Hadiyanto; the Chairman of the Assembly of Rectors of Indonesian State Universities (MRPTNI), Prof. Ganefri, Ph.D., as well as the Rectors of State Universities in Indonesia.
The coordinator of the event, who is also the Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, Business, and Information at UNS, Prof. Irwan Tri Nugroho, S.E., M.Sc., Ph.D., stated that education plays a vital role in the advancement of culture as education itself is a cultural process. In this context, universities play a strategic role in shaping and re-creating cultured and civilized Indonesians based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. Universities are not only intended to develop cognitive-academic intelligence but also to cultivate affective and psychomotor intelligence and strengthen the character of students to become good individuals, good citizens, and good global citizens.
Based on the aforementioned principles, Universitas Indonesia (UI), UNS, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Indonesia (Unusia), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek), MRPTNI, and the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP) collaborated to organize the 2024 Cultural Discussion. The organization of this Cultural Discussion was supported by the national movement Akar Indonesia along with the Association of Indonesian Student Alumni (IA PPI) and Mata Garuda (Association of LPDP Scholarship Recipients), as a manifestation of awareness and concern about the importance of a cultural strategy roadmap to strengthen national values, especially in young generations towards Indonesia Emas 2045.
“The theme of this Cultural Discussion is ‘The Contribution of Universities in Strengthening National Values Based on Culture.’ This theme will be discussed philosophically, sociologically, and practically in the hope of producing useful recommendations for stakeholders,” Prof. Irwan said on Monday (March 4, 2024).
Therefore, the discussion theme was divided into several sub-themes. The first sub-theme was the Basic Conception of Indonesian Culture with speakers Prof. Dr. Warto, M.Hum. (the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Studies UNS) and Dr. Bondan Kanumoyoso, M.Hum (the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Studies UI). The respondents were Sujiwo Tejo and the Director General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, along with Moderator Dr. Ngatawi Al Zastrouw, S.Ag, M.Si. (the Head of the Makara Art Center UI and the Chair of the UI National Forum Working Group).
The second sub-theme was “Indonesian Culture in the Global Era (Continuity and Change): Perspectives on Religion and Geopolitics” with speakers Dr. Ahmad Suaedy, MA. Hum. (the Dean of FIN Unusia) and Dr. Muhammad Najib Azca, M.A. The respondents were Taufik Rahzen and Prof. Muliaman Darmansyah Hadad, Ph.D., along with Moderator Dr. Rahmat Hidayatullah, S.S., M.A.
The third sub-theme was “The Relationship between Education and Culture” with speakers Dr. Johanes Haryatmoko, SJ and Dra. Adi D. Adinugroho-Horstman, M.A., Spec.Ed. Specialist., Ph.D. The respondents were Prof. Sardono W. Kusumo and Dewanti Cahyaningsih, S.E., M.Rech, Ph.D. (cand) along with Moderator Dr. Susanto, M.Hum.
The fourth sub-theme was “Nationalism of Gen Y and Z (Character and Mindset)” with speakers Prof. Dr. Hamdi Muluk, M.Si. and Ridwan, S.Ag., M.A., Ph.D. The respondents were Hasanuddin Ali (the Director of the Alvara Research Center) and KH. Ulil Abshar Abdalla, M.A., along with Moderator Dr. Siti Nabilah, S.Sos., M.Pd.
The fifth sub-theme was “Nationalism in the Digital Era (Concept and Format)” with speakers Endah Triastuti, Ph.D. and Yudhi Ariesta Chandra, Ph.D. The respondents were the Director General of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Hilmar Farid, M.A., Ph.D. and Tommy F. Awuy. The Moderator was Faruq Ibnul Haqi, M.RgnUrbPlan., Ph.D. (cand) (Secretary-General of IA PPI).
The sixth sub-theme was “The Actualization and Contextualization of Nusantara Culture for the Strengthening of National Values in Universities” with speakers Prof. Dr. Semiarto Aji Purwanto (the Dean of FISIP UI) and Prof. Dr. Drs. Rahmanu Hidayat, M.Sn. (the Dean of FSRD UNS). The respondents are the Director of LPDP, the Chairman of MRPTNI, Faruq Ibnul Haqi, M.RgnUrbPlan., Ph.D. (cand) (Secretary-General of IA PPI) along with Moderator Dr. Ngatawi Al Zastrouw, S.Ag, M.Si.
Meanwhile, the Organizer Coordinator, Prof. Dr. dr. Hartono, M.Si. stated that the goal of this cultural discussion is to conceptualize Indonesian culture in the contemporary context, re-conceptualize national values in the global era, prioritize cultural approaches to strengthen national values in universities, and formulate effective formats, methods, language, and media for conveying national messages that are connected with the characteristics of Gen Y and Z.
“Culture is Indonesia’s comparative advantage, so there needs to be a strategy to make it a competitive advantage and Indonesia’s Soft Power in the global arena. It is time for the young generation of Indonesians to be more culturally aware, understand their identity, and know who we are,” Prof. Hartono said. HUMAS UNS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti