The Faculty of Cultural Studies (FCS) of Universitas Brawijaya (UB) received an academic visit from Peking University, China, to develop the potential for cooperation in the educational field and culture-based industries, which are part of the vision of Globalizing UB. The group of 12 students, led by Prof. Dr. Yong (Hardy) Xiang, Dean of the Institute for Cultural Industries, visited FCS UB for a week, from Monday to Sunday (2/3-9/2025).
Various academic agendas and cultural explorations were carried out during this visit, including guest lectures from FCS UB and Prof. Hardy, meetings with the UB Rector, and direct observation of various thematic villages in Malang Raya which are real examples of the development of culture-based creative industries.
The meeting with the UB Rector took place in the Rector’s Meeting Room 7th floor, UB Rectorate Building on Tuesday (2/4/2025). The meeting was attended by Prof. Widodo, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D.Med.Sc. (UB Rector) and UB leaders, including Prof. Andi Kurniawan, S.Pi., M.Eng., D.Sc. (Vice-Rector for Planning, Cooperation, and Internationalization), Prof. Agung Sugeng Widodo, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., and Pantri Muthriana Erza Killan, Ph.D. From the FCS UB, Hamamah, Ph.D. (Dean), Nanang Endrayanto, M.Sc. (Vice-Dean for General Affairs, Finance, and Resources), as well as the Head of Cultural-Based Industry Program Development of FCS, Yusri Fajar, M.A.
In her presentation, Pantri Muthriana Erza Killan, Ph.D., introduced and gave an overview of the profile and internationalization program of UB, which is the largest university in Indonesia with 48,000-50,000 students from undergraduate to postgraduate levels.
Prof. Hardy welcomed UB’s various programs and emphasized that Peking University has much in common with UB in terms of research and development of cultural industries. He highlighted the great potential for research collaboration, student exchanges, as well as academic cooperation in the fields of cultural industries and cultural digitization.
“We have study programs related to art history, film and television, creativity management, and cultural digitization. We also have an AI creativity laboratory that is developing models for the cultural industry and digital agriculture,” Prof. Hardy explained.
He also mentioned that Peking University has an extensive international network, including a partnership with UNESCO in the development of culture-based industries, which could be an opportunity for UB to engage in international projects.
“We would like to organize rotating international conferences between China and Indonesia, focusing on cultural industries. We are also open to cooperation in the form of joint publications, joint conferences, visiting lecturers, and adjunct professor programs,” he added.
UB Rector, Prof. Widodo, stated that cooperation with Peking University is a strategic step to strengthen UB’s internationalization.
“We hope this cooperation can open up more opportunities, both in the fields of research, academic exchanges, and the cultural industry. We want to ensure that this cooperation brings benefits to both parties,” he said.
UB’s Vice-Rector for Planning, Cooperation, and Internationalization, Prof. Andi Kurniawan, added that UB is ready to support this cooperation through research funding, student exchange, and other collaboration programs.
“We have the UB STARS (Student Academic Research Scheme) program that allows UB students to conduct research abroad, as well as the 3 in 1 program that involves academics, industry professionals, and practitioners in one course. If Peking University is interested, we can include your institution in these programs,” he explained.
This meeting is an important momentum for UB and Peking University to strengthen academic and cultural industry collaboration between Indonesia and China. Through this collaboration, it is hoped that the cultural industry in Malang Raya can develop more widely, in line with UB’s vision to become a center for culture-based academics and industries at the global level.
Prof. Hardy ended the meeting by expressing his enthusiasm to continue this collaboration.
“I am very pleased with today’s discussion and see that UB has a strong vision in the field of cultural industries. I hope soon we can realize the projects we have discussed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UB Rector, Prof. Widodo, closed the meeting with the hope that this collaboration will become even closer.
“We hope this meeting will be a good start for long-term cooperation between UB and Peking University. We are ready to work together and ensure that this collaboration has a real impact on both institutions,” he said.
With various plans that have been prepared, it is hoped that UB and Peking University can jointly create a more advanced cultural industry ecosystem and make a real contribution to the academic world and creative economy in both countries. [dts/PR FCS]
