The Research Team for the PUU LPPM Scheme at Udayana University Conducted an Interview with the French-UNESCO Ambassador and a Focus Group Discussion Exactly a Year After UNESCO Determined Indonesian as its Official Language

"Paris, 20 November 2023" will probably always be recorded in the history of Indonesian cultural diplomacy because it was the momentum when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Indonesian as the official language of the specialized agency of the United Nations.

Exactly a year after this determination, the Research Team for the Udayana Leading Research Scheme (PUU) Institute for Community Research and Development (LPPM) Udayana University (Unud) held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) "Strategy for Formulating Policy on the Use of Indonesian in the Implementation of Tourism Global post-Recognition by UNESCO" at the Puri Nusa Indah Hotel, Denpasar, on November 20 2024.

This activity presented 3 (three) resource persons as discussion starters, namely the Head of the Bali Provincial Culture Service, Prof. Dr. I Gede Arya Sugiartha, S.Kar, MHum, Head of the Bali Province Language Center Valentina Lovina Tanate, M.Hum, and Professor at Udayana University Prof. Dr. Drs. I Made Rajeg, MSi, guided by moderator Ni Gusti Ayu Susrami Dewi, SST.Par, M.Par.

The discussion was held as one of the research activities of the Udayana Flagship Research scheme - LPPM Unud grant which was carried out by the Unud research team consisting of Chief Researcher Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Suyatna, SH, MH as well as research members I Ketut Sudiarta, SH, MH, I Made Budi Arsika, SH, LLM, Ni Gusti Ayu Susrami Dewi, SST.Par, M.Par, Pebry Dirgantara, SH, MKn, and I Kadek Dony Hartawan, SH, MKn.

The Chief Researcher explained that this research examines regulatory and policy aspects as implications for the determination of Indonesian as the official language of UNESCO. In addition, this research aims to make the momentum for the success of the Indonesian Government's cultural diplomacy more developed, disseminated and transmitted to various sectors, including the global tourism dimension which reflects multicultural and multilingual activities.

This activity was also attended by Unud lecturers and students, including Prof. Dr. Made Sri Satyawati, S.S. M. Hum, Prof. Dr. I Made Netra, SS, MHum, Prof. Dr. Ni Ketut Supasti Dharmawan, SH, MHum, LLM. The discussion participants actively participated in providing notes and input, including officials from the Expertise and Professional Services Group (KKLP) of the Bali Province Language Center, Head of the Language Services Unit of the Bali Tourism Polytechnic, Management of the Indonesian Translator Association of the Bali Regional Commissariat, Director of Studies for English & Indonesian Language Services of the Indonesian Australian Language Foundation (IALF) Bali, Director of the Mandara School of Law and Public Policy, as well as officials and staff of the Bali Provincial Culture Service and the Bali Provincial Language Center.

This activity was officially opened by the Chair of LPPM Unud Prof. Dr. Drh. I Nyoman Suarsana, MSi. When delivering his remarks at the opening session, the Chair of LPPM Unud appreciated the holding of the discussion because it reflected the concern of Unud academics in supporting the government, both central and regional, to formulate a more comprehensive Indonesian language internationalization policy.

Two days earlier, namely on November 18 2024, the Chair of LPPM Unud also accompanied the Research Team to conduct a virtual interview with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to France/Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to UNESCO Mohamad Oemar who was accompanied at the time of the interview by the Coordinator Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to UNESCO Elvie Indayani.

In this interview, the Research Team received an explanation of the diplomatic process carried out by Indonesia during the process of applying for Indonesian as an Official UNESCO language as well as the rights and obligations of the Indonesian Government which emerged as an implication of this designation by UNESCO. Ambassador Mohamad Oemar was also pleased to explain the strategic contribution of Indonesia's membership on the UNESCO Executive Board to efforts to internationalize the Indonesian language.