Faculty of Cultural Studies (FCS) Universitas Brawijaya (UB) continues to expand its network of cooperation with various parties to develop Rumah Budaya Indonesia (RBI) as a center of cultural diplomacy and international education. This time, FCS UB explored a partnership with West Java Bank (BJB) in a discussion on Thursday (1/30/2025) at the 2nd Floor Meeting Room of Building A FCS UB.
The discussion was attended by the BJB team, including Dian Kurniawan (Deputy CEO Regional), Rubby Triyadi (Group Head BJB Region V), Aida (Retail and Consumer Manager Regional V), Dody Krisnanda (Branch Manager Surabaya), and Gigih (Sub Branch Manager Malang). Meanwhile, the Dean of FIB UB, Hamamah, Ph.D., Vice Dean, Head of the Department of Art and Cultural Anthropology, and UB partners were present.
The discussion was opened by Dewi Utari, UB Partner, who emphasized the importance of synergy between FCS UB and BJB in supporting the development of RBI and various other academic aspects. In her speech, Hamamah, Ph.D., Dean of FCS UB, said that RBI is a strategic step in soft diplomacy between Indonesia and China, especially in culture and education.
“BJB has been intensively communicating with the Rector of UB, but this time, we want to expand collaboration with the faculty, especially FCS UB. We believe RBI will become a cultural and linguistic research center that will benefit academics, the community, industry, and government,” Hamamah said.
Furthermore, she explained that the need for Chinese-speaking workers is increasing with the increasing diplomatic relations between Indonesia and China.
“Demand from industry for graduates with language and cultural skills continues to increase, especially Chinese, and FCS UB plays a role in meeting these needs,” she added.
Responding to the potential for cooperation, Rubby Triyadi, Group Head of BJB Region V, emphasized that BJB is ready to support this initiative after analyzing the form of activities and business potential that can be developed.
“BJB is the largest regional bank in East Java and ranked 13th nationally. We want to understand further the potential cooperation that can be established with FCS UB, especially in supporting academic and cultural programs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Aida, Regional V Retail and Consumer Manager, added that BJB already cooperates with UB in various fields, and they hope this collaboration can be extended to all faculties. She also offered various banking products that can be utilized by the UB academic community, such as (1) student UKT payments through BJB, (2) loan credit for UB employees and staff, (3) digitalization-based student savings, and (4) the BJB Goes to Campus program to improve financial literacy among students.
Support also came from Dody Krisnanda, Branch Manager Surabaya, who explained that BJB Malang only opened in August 2024, making it a strategic branch to develop cooperation with educational institutions, including UB.
“UB’s response to this cooperation is quite positive. The MoU being prepared will be a legal umbrella for wider collaboration, especially within the scope of faculties such as FCS UB,” said Dody.
On this occasion, Dr. Hipolitus Kristoforus Kewuel, S.Ag., M.Hum., as the Head of the Department of Art and Cultural Anthropology as well as the RBI PIC Project, explained the concept of RBI as a center for research and diplomacy of Indonesian culture abroad. As an academic institution, FCS UB wants to expand the impact of RBI by collaborating with various parties, including the banking industry, such as BJB.
“We cannot walk alone, so we need support from various sectors, ranging from government, community, to industry, to strengthen RBI as a center of education and culture,” Hipolitus explained.
Dewi Utari, as the moderator, emphasized that RBI will become a cultural and linguistic research center that can support various academic initiatives and the creative economy in Malang Raya. With high optimism, this discussion is expected to generate many opportunities for concrete cooperation between BJB and FCS UB.
Meanwhile, Nanang Endrayanto, S.S., M.Sc., Vice Dean for General Affairs, Finance, and Resources, said that RBI is FCS UB’s flagship program in supporting Globalizing UB.
In addition, Dr. Aji Setyanto, S.S., M.Litt., Vice Dean for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Student Entrepreneurship, added that FCS UB has excellent potential in the field of arts and culture, with various agendas such as art and cultural exhibitions, art performances, and cultural festivals in each study program.
In closing, Dian Kurniawan, Deputy CEO of Regional BJB, appreciated FCS UB’s initiative in developing RBI. He highlighted the importance of integrating tourism, culture, and technology in one creative economy package.
“Many regions lose their identity and only focus on tourism. But after seeing the presentation from FCS UB, this is the approach we are looking for – developing a creative economy based on culture and technology. We are very open to collaborating in various forms,” he said.
This discussion marks a good start for collaboration between FCS UB and BJB, with opportunities for cooperation that include developing RBI, digitalizing academic services, mentoring culture-based MSMEs, and synergies in the tourism industry. Both parties agreed to follow up this discussion in the next meeting to design concrete steps towards mutually beneficial cooperation.
With the spirit of cross-sector synergy, FCS UB and BJB are ready to realize strategic cooperation that will broadly impact the academic world, industry, and the development of Indonesian culture globally. [dts/PR FCS]
