Fikom Unisba Celebrates 43rd Anniversary, Reinforces Commitment Towards SMART 2026
The Faculty of Communication Sciences (Fikom) at Universitas Islam Bandung (Unisba) held an Open Senate Session to commemorate its 43rd anniversary at the Unisba Main Hall on Tuesday (9/6/2026).
Carrying the theme “FIKOM Unisba for Impact: SMART 2026”, the event served as a moment for reflection and a reinforcement of the faculty’s development direction amidst the acceleration of digital transformation.
The event was attended by the leadership of the foundation, university officials, and the Fikom Unisba academic community, including faculty leaders, lecturers, educational staff, students, and alumni, as well as industry partners.
The Rector of Unisba, Prof. Ir. A. Harits Nu’man, MT, Ph.D, IPU, ASEAN Eng, expressed his appreciation for Fikom Unisba’s long journey over the past 43 years. He noted that Fikom has experienced significant development in institutional aspects, lecturer resources, and academic recognition.
The Rector also highlighted the importance of improving lecturer quality, particularly in accelerating academic promotions towards professorship, given the intense competition and the demands of current higher education regulations.
He expressed hope that Fikom would continue to contribute to supporting the university’s vision of becoming a highly accredited institution with global competitiveness.
The Head of the Higher Education Service Institution (LLDIKTI) for the West Java and Banten Region, Dr Lukman, ST, M.Hum, also commended Fikom Unisba’s contribution to producing high-quality and competitive graduates.
He assessed that 43 years represents a phase of maturity for Fikom to continue moving forward and to strengthen its strategic role in the world of higher education.
In her scientific oration, the Dean of Fikom Unisba, Dr Rini Rinawati, Dra, M.Si, addressed the theme “Communication, Empowerment, and Digitalisation: Rediscovering the Essence of Humanity in the Digital Era through Family Communication”.
She emphasised that communication functions not only as a tool for exchanging information but also as the core of human existence.
Amidst the rapid flow of digitalisation, communication is undergoing a major transformation that brings both opportunities and challenges, such as information overload, the rise of hoaxes, social polarisation, and the declining quality of human interaction.
Furthermore, she stressed that the family must serve as the primary space for preserving human values in communication. Families should act as safe harens that foster empathy, care, and emotional balance in the younger generation amidst the dominance of digital media.
In her presentation, the Dean also highlighted the importance of digital literacy and communication capacity, which includes the ability to think critically when filtering information, communicating ethically and empathetically, and utilising technology responsibly for social empowerment.
She also drew inspiration from the exemplary roles of women in Islamic history, such as Siti Hajar, the mother of Prophet Musa, and Siti Maryam, as symbols of resilience, strategy, and the vital role of women in building civilisation, which remains relevant in facing digital era challenges.
The scientific oration also asserted that digitalisation should be understood as a means of empowerment, rather than merely technological advancement. The younger generation is expected to become communicators who are not only intellectually intelligent but also wise, ethical, and oriented towards human values.
The Chairperson of the 43rd Anniversary Committee, Dr Tia Muthiah Umar, S.Sos., M.Si, reported that Fikom Unisba has grown over more than four decades with tangible contributions to the development of communication science, character building, and community service.
Additionally, Fikom Unisba reaffirmed the implementation of the SMART 2026 theme, which is an acronym for Smart, Mindful, Aware, Responsible, and Thriving, serving as a guide to producing adaptive and impactful graduates.
The event included an awards ceremony for Fikom Unisba’s Outstanding Students, the Achievement-Driving School Award, and the Impactful Education Partner Award, as part of a series of academic strengthening and community service programmes.