Fadli Zon Encourage Universities Over 50 Years Old to Have Museums

BANDUNG - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon encourages universities that have been around for more than 50 years to build museums as centers for education, research, and preservation of institutional history.

The statement was made when inaugurating the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Museum at the ITB Campus, Bandung, Friday (3/7). According to Fadli, campus museums are not just storing historical objects, but becoming a space that maintains collective memory while strengthening national identity.

"Indonesia currently has around 516 registered museums. With the presence of the ITB Museum, we hope that the number will continue to increase. Museums must be living spaces, visited by the public, inspiring the younger generation, and at the same time being an important part of the Indonesian cultural economy," he said.

He assessed that the ITB Museum can serve as an example for other universities to build museums that not only serve as a place to store collections, but also learning and knowledge development spaces.

According to Fadli, ITB is one of the educational institutions that has a long history and has produced many national figures. Therefore, the institution's journey needs to be documented and passed on to the next generation.

"Museums are cultural showcases and showcases of civilization. This is not a place to store artifacts, but the collective memory of an institution," he said.

The inauguration of the ITB Museum was marked by the signing of a plaque with the Rector of ITB Prof. Tatacipta Dirgantara, after a ribbon was cut with a number of figures, including Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, Dato' Low Tuck Kwong, Filda Yusgiantoro, and sculptor Nyoman Nuarta.

The ITB Rector, Tatacipta Dirgantara, said the museum was built through a process of about eight years. The museum is designed as a knowledge space that not only records the history of the campus, but also becomes a source of inspiration for future generations.

The ITB Museum presents four main zones, namely the history of the establishment of ITB, the journey of research and education, campus life from time to time, and future inspiration. Visitors can also enjoy the 360° Theater Dome, a digital performance space that presents an immersive visual experience.

This museum records the journey of ITB since it was still named Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng which was established in 1920.

The Ministry of Culture hopes that the existence of the ITB Museum will encourage more universities, local governments, businesses, and the community to build museums as centers of education, history preservation, and strengthening the identity of Indonesian culture.