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by Elhaiza Gq Situmeang

FKIP UNPRI Holds Expert Lecture: History and Philosophy of the BIPA Program

Medan – FKIP Universitas Prima Indonesia (UNPRI) held an Expert Lecture "History and Philosophy of the BIPA Program", Saturday (23/11/2024) on Floor 19 of the UNPRI Main Campus, Jln. Cover No. 3 Medan, by presenting resource person Prof. Dr. Liliana Muliastuti, M.Pd.

According to Prof. Dr. Liliana Muliastuti, M.Pd., BIPA (Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers) Program, has become a cultural bridge, uniting foreign speakers with the richness of Indonesian culture.

“BIPA's main goal is for foreign speakers to be able to communicate well using Indonesian, both orally and in writing. "Apart from that, BIPA also aims to introduce Indonesian language and culture to foreign speakers," he explained.

In this expert lecture, the historical roots of the formation of the BIPA program were discussed, the philosophy underlying the BIPA teaching method, and its impact on cultural diplomacy and globalization.

He further explained that the internationalization of Indonesian must be supported by various factors. These factors can be categorized into teaching and non-teaching factors. One of the non-teaching factors that must be worked on immediately is the policy factor supporting the "Indonesian wave". The Indonesian wave can be achieved through globalization of Indonesian culture by all parties (society and government).

Dean of FKIP UNPRI, Dean of FKIP, Dr. Dian Syahfitri, S.S., M.Hum, in her speech said that BIPA is not just a language teaching program. It contains cultural missions, diplomacy and introducing the identity of the Indonesian nation to the world. Through BIPA, Indonesian becomes a bridge that connects us with the international community, introducing the beauty, uniqueness and noble values of the nation.

"The theme we are raising today, History and Philosophy of the BIPA Program, is a very important theme for us to understand together. By studying its history, we can trace the steps of this program, from its initial initiative to becoming an integral part of Indonesia's cultural diplomacy strategy. "Through the underlying philosophy, we can understand the values contained in every teaching: from respecting diversity to building a sense of cross-cultural brotherhood," he stressed.

The Dean of FKIP UNPRI hopes that the expert lecture will be able to broaden the horizons of all participants, especially students, who may be involved directly or indirectly in the development of BIPA in the future.

"Through this session, let's make the BIPA program a means to further strengthen the relationship between the Indonesian nation and the international world, as well as an effort to maintain the existence of the Indonesian language in the midst of globalization," he explained.

One of the participants said he was very lucky to be able to attend this lecture, because he not only gained new knowledge, but was also inspired to contribute more to advancing this program, either as a student, teacher or BIPA supporter in the future.

Furthermore, he hopes that all parties, especially the younger generation, will increasingly realize how important it is to maintain and promote Indonesian as part of the nation's identity. The BIPA program is not only about language, but also about introducing Indonesian culture and noble values to the world.

For this reason, the expert lecture participants also hope that more students, lecturers and institutions will be actively involved in supporting this program. Both through research, teaching, and efforts to expand the BIPA network to various countries, so that this program continues to develop and become widely known.

"By understanding the BIPA philosophy, hopefully we will be able to adapt this program to global dynamics without losing the values on which it is based. "The hope is that Indonesian will not only be a means of communication, but also an entry point for building mutually respectful cross-cultural dialogue," he said.

The expert lecture was attended by 80 participants, including Bachelor of Indonesian Language and Literature Education, Bachelor of English Language Education and Master of Indonesian Language Education.