UGM Center for Asia Pacific Studies will hold an Intercultural Week from 27 May – 2 June, presenting a Workshop on Intercultural Approach Research, Book Discussion on Intercultural Method, Photo Discussion of Research Result, Photo Exhibition, Film Screening and Discussion as well as Intercultural Night.
Esti Anantasari, S.Ant. Committee Chairman, said that the Week would have the theme of Appreciation of Cultural Diversity in State Aspiration. Apart from encouraging Indonesians who are pluralistic to be able to appreciate diversity more of state’s life, this event is aimed at socialising studies with intercultural perspective that have been produced by recipients of scholarship offered by the Center.
The Workshop will present Intercultural Approach Research that involves students and lecturers scholarship recipients, and managers of SPIS-PSAP UGM. Meanwhile, lecturers, students, teachers and highschool students will be invited to attend the book discussion, photo discussion, and film screening. "Those discussions are aimed at giving a description about intercultural approach in research and teaching materials," said Esti Anantasari on UGM campus, Tuesday (25/5).
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Esti said that the photo discussion would present curators and etnophotography observers who will discuss the cultural aspects of the photos on display. The film screening will run culture-themed films that can be seen by all ages. A discussion will follow each screening. "The committee has selected three films to be run at the Karta Pustaka," she added.
The event will close with the Intercultural Night at the Koesnadi Hardjasoemantri Cultural Center, bringing together scholarships recipients, UGM leadership, donors who are the partners of the Center, and local and national mass media. The meeting of all stakeholders aims at disseminating intercultural spirit and expanding cooperation network.
On the night, a Portfolio of SPIS will be displayed, containing information on scholarship program for Intercultural Studies and profiles of all recipients. "The book will be sent out to all local and national partners of SPIS-Center for Asia Pacific Studies," Esti explained. Esti Anantasari described that the cooperation between the Center and Ford Foundation in education and research has long run, starting in 2005 in the form of scholarships. So far, there are 69 scholarship recipients from UGM Faculties and other universities.
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"The Center that was established in 1994 has the mission to increase researches that have multidisciplinary perspective about various life aspects of Asia Pacific nations. With the program, lecturers and students are expected to develop multidisiplinary researches. This cultural event is hoped to raise the application of intercultural and multidisciplinary approach to be adopted in studies at university level," she concluded.