Faculty of Philosophy Universitas Gadjah Mada opens short course class entitled “Short Course on Nusantara Philosophy”. This course is opened for students from all over the world.
Dean of Faculty of Philosophy UGM, Dr.Arqom Kuswanjono, said Nusantara Philosophy course is opened for undergraduate students who are interested in studying Nusantara culture philosophy. In this course, students can study about Nusantara philosophy in various themes, such as religions, cultures, politics, economics, gender, etc.
“Students can study about many things which show Indonesian Cultures’ Special Characteristics,” said Arqom on Wednesday (8/3) at Faculty of Philosophy UGM.
During one semester, students not only study Nusantara philosophy in campus, but also join field study such as going to pesantren (Islamic boarding school), Yogyakarta Palace, temples, and other cultural heritages.
Arqom said this Nusantara Philosophy course gets positive response from American University by planning to send at least 20 students to join the course in April.
“We offer this course to universities all over the world and the first course will be attended by students from American University,” he said.
Arqom said Nusantara philosophy has yet to be studied in Indonesia, and most of universities study about western philosophy, China philosophy, Indian philosophy, etc. Moreover, all this while there is no institution which particularly studies Nusantara philosophy.
“Faculty of Philosophy UGM becomes the only university in the world which focuses on developing Nusantara philosophy. We commit to develop this Nusantara philosophy seriously,” he said after welcoming a visit from American University delegates.
Their commitment is showed by the opening of courses on Nusantara philosophy, wayang (Javanese shadow puppet) philosophy, as well as Pancasila philosophy, and supported by the establishment of Nusantara philosophy laboratory.
Moreover, they hold yearly International Conference on Nusantara Philosophy, summer course on Nusantara philosophy, and School of International Training (SIT) program for American students who study about Indonesian philosophy and cultures.
“Faculty of Philosophy UGM seriously studies and develops Nusantara philosophy. We attempt to explore Indonesian cultures philosophy and commit to develop Nusantara philosophy,” he added.
Meanwhile, Assistant Director of American University Abord, Ethan Merritt, said his party is interested in sending its students to join Nusantara philosophy course which is held by Faculty of Philosophy UGM because it is a peculiar study and has yet to be conducted in the world.
“We will send our students to join Pancasila philosophy course in UGM in the next spring,” said Merritt. (Humas UGM/Fiki)