ULM Sociology Study Program Regional Seminar, Rector Initiated Anthropology Study Program at ULM
Banjarmasin – Sociology study program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) held a regional seminar with the theme “Caring for Kalimantan Customs and Culture in Changing Times in Order to Strengthen Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Indonesianness”. This event was held on Thursday (21/12/2023) at the General Building, Banjarmasin Campus.
ULM Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmad Alim Bachri, S.E., M.Sc., in his speech said that this seminar was a strategic step, where the speakers who attended included Muhammad Iqbal (Researcher at UIN Antasari), Prof. Dr. H Ahmad Dakhoir, S.H.Q., M.H.I (Rector of IAIN Palangkaraya), and Prof. Drs. Kumpiady Widen, MA., Ph.D (Professor of Anthropology, FISIP UPR). These resource persons are here to provide students and invited guests with insight and understanding of how society can care for and maintain native culture, especially those in Kalimantan.
“Considering that we are now in an era where developments are increasingly rapid. Kalimantan’s customs and culture must be of special concern to many parties. “Moreover, the Archipelago Capital (IKN) is currently under development in East Kalimantan,” said the Rector.
The Rector said that the presence of IKN in Kalimantan would open up the possibility of attacks by other cultures, which could erode or destroy the original cultural civilization of Kalimantan.
Furthermore, Prof. Ahmad also talked about defense where defense is not only about how to maintain state security, but also about how to protect and maintain culture as one of the elements that form national identity.
“Defensive and internal defense, based on academic and scientific studies, namely by socializing, maintaining and exposing, and defending because culture is actually customary. “New generations need to conceptually understand the culture and civilization of a particular ethnicity,” said the ULM Rector.
Therefore, holding this seminar increased the ULM Rector’s confidence in opening a new study program at ULM, namely the Anthropology study program. According to the Rector, this study program can be useful for strengthening and preserving regional culture and is also a preventive measure against other cultures coming in and eroding local original culture.
“Help me to build an anthropology study program at Lambung Mangkurat University,” he added.
He also added that cultural civilization could be lost and eroded by the times if we heed this Anthropology study program. By holding this cultural seminar, it is hoped that it can provide deep meaning for all parties where the University has an important role in preserving culture and maintaining cultural diversity in order to maintain the defense of the nation and state.
This event was filled with students from the FISIP Sociology study program and FKIP Sociology Education study program from various generations and went very orderly and smoothly. Invited guests were even shown a dribble dance as a welcoming dance to enliven the event.
