Ministry of Culture views culture as capital for accelerating the economy and cultural advancement
Culture Minister Fadli Zon has said that culture is not only the foundation and identity of the nation, but also a strategic asset for accelerating the cultural economy, advancing culture and promoting sustainable development (the power of culture).
“Culture will become a very important asset for accelerating our cultural economy and also advancing our culture, which ultimately, once we love our culture, there will be an internalisation of important cultural values such as mutual cooperation, honesty, cleanliness and working together,” Fadli Zon said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Through synergy between the government, communities and the younger generation, the nation’s cultural values are expected to continue to be preserved and to transform into a creative force that remains relevant to the times.
This step is in line with the Culture Ministry’s commitment to continue supporting creative spaces for young people and to encourage inclusive and sustainable cultural advancement.
In this regard, the commitment of the central and regional governments to strengthening the cultural ecosystem is realised by partnering with higher education institutions as centres for preserving local wisdom across the archipelago, one of which is Universitas Tunas Pembangunan (UTP) Surakarta. Fadli Zon said universities have a responsibility not only to be places for transferring scientific knowledge, but also to function as cultural hubs and spaces for innovation based on national identity.
Fadli Zon highlighted Indonesia’s mega diversity as an epicentre of world civilisation with a very long historical heritage, while outlining the success of cultural diplomacy in repatriating thousands of historical artefacts back to the motherland.
The Culture Minister also expressed his appreciation for UTP’s dedication in consistently producing excellent human resources and making a real contribution to the nation’s progress.
“The Culture Ministry must indeed work together with all stakeholders, from regional governments, academics at universities, to cultural communities and traditional learning centres,” he said.
Meanwhile, UTP Surakarta Rector Winarti affirmed the university’s commitment to inheriting the noble cultural values of the Tri Ciri Tentara Pelajar, namely Patriotism, Pioneering and Independence, which are continually kept alive as the breath of education and character building for the nation’s next generation.
In line with efforts to preserve cultural heritage, which is a focus of the ministry’s documentation work, practical collaboration between the campus and the Culture Ministry has been running closely.
Students and lecturers from UTP’s Faculty of Engineering have been directly involved in assisting temple restoration projects, museum arrangement, palace restoration, and carrying out a series of feasibility tests on historical materials such as ancient brick testing. This involvement ensures that the integrity of historical sites is maintained in accordance with conservation standards and the documentation of the nation’s heritage.
Going forward, the synergy between UTP and the Culture Ministry will continue to be expanded by involving other faculties, such as the Faculty of Economics and Business, the Faculty of Agriculture, and the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, in order to accelerate cultural advancement across various dimensions of community life.