JAKARTA International cooperation in the preservation of cultural manuscripts is very important. This was conveyed by the Minister of Culture Fadli Zon when receiving a visit from the Deputy University of Leiden and the Dean of Leiden-Delft-Erasmus University Alliance, Prof. Wim Van Den Doel, at the Office of the Ministry of Culture, Jakarta, Monday, June 2, 2025.
We are very enthusiastic to strengthen this cooperation. How come it is an important part of the nation's collective memory. We need to study, translate, and open access to this cultural heritage," said Fadli.
During the meeting, Fadli directed his staff, especially the Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion, and Cultural Cooperation, Endah TD Retnoastuti, to follow up on this synergy concretely, including through a matching fund scheme.
Prof. Wim Van Den Doel enthusiastically welcomed this initiative. He stated that KITLV Jakarta opens opportunities for cooperation in the form of professorship, especially for cultural experts from Indonesia who are able to study manuscripts in various regional languages.
"We are looking for a professor from Indonesia to be directly involved in the teaching and study of the archipelago cultural manuscript," he said.
KITLV (Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde) is a cultural and historical research institute that has been established since 1851. Based in Leiden, the Netherlands, KITLV has opened a representative office in Jakarta since 1969 and has actively published scientific works on Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Fadli Zon explained, as a ministry that was only formed after 79 years of independent Indonesia, the main focus of the institution is the development of cultural values that can be scientifically accounted for and contribute to innovation.
Manuscrip and artifacts from Indonesia need to be studied as a source of original knowledge of the archipelago. This is not only a matter of preservation, but also cultural promotion," he said.
KITLV Jakarta currently has established scholarship cooperation with five Indonesian universities: ITB, UGM, UI, Unair, and Mulawarman University. This opportunity is expanded through collaboration with various Indonesian Cultural Arts Institutes (ISBI) in Bandung, Aceh, and East Kalimantan.
"There are many ISBIs that have the potential to cooperate in the study of local culture and scripts," said the Expert Staff of the Minister, Masyitoh Annisa Ramadhani Alkatiri.
Closing the discussion, Prof. Wim Van Den Doel invited Fadli Zon to visit the KITLV Library in Leiden. This library has a large collection of physical and digital forms, focusing on Southeast Asia studies, especially Indonesia.
"Through the collaborative translation of the manuscript, we hope to enrich the metadata and open wider access for the public and researchers," said Wim.
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Also present at this meeting were Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha Djumaryo; Director of Diplomacy, Usman Effendi; Expert Staff of Minister Ismunandar; LDE Academic Coordinator in Indonesia Risa Nihiyah; and Budiman from KITLV Jakarta.
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