Semarang – Central Java (3/11). The Master of History Study Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Diponegoro University, held a Summer Course on November 1-4, 2022 with the theme “Austronesian Today: Origins, Cultures, and Diaspora” through the Zoom meeting platform. This program is also designed in Undip’s framework towards a World Class University. It supports the global agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially at point 4.7, namely appreciating the differences in cultures worldwide.The discourse on Austronesian is always relevant today. As a nation, we tend to trace our “communal identity” to physical characteristics, such as eye color, nose shape, and even the curve of our chin. This is also true of culture, which manifests itself in the types of rites and language varieties we have. To what extent are the similarities and differences that characterize most of the nations in Southeast Asia, Madagascar, New Zealand, and Hawaii believed to have Austronesian ancestors?
The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities of Diponegoro University, Dr. Nurhayati, M. Hum, who has supported the organization of this event since the beginning, hopes that this Summer Course will become a medium to open up insights related to national identity and establish networks with various colleagues from various universities abroad.
Furthermore, in his Summer Course speech (1/11/22), Ahmad Ni’matullah Al-Baarri, Ph.D., as the Coordinator of the Summer Course Program at the Diponegoro University level, revealed that the 1st Summer Course organized by the Master of History Study Program was the most spectacular Summer Course throughout its implementation at Undip. This is reflected in the exciting themes with speakers from diverse backgrounds and the number of participants who were successfully gathered, namely 130 participants, consisting of 80 participants from abroad (Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, China, India, and Bangladesh) and 40 from Indonesia. The participants came from universities such as National Dong Hwa University-Taiwan, Marinduque State College-Philippines, Universiti Malaysia Sabah-Malaysia, Ningxia University-China, BRAC University-Bangladesh, and others.
Prof. Dr. Singgih Tri Sulistiyono, M. Hum. as the head of the Master of History Study Program, sees the urgency of the study program to play an active role in studying the migration and diaspora of Southeast Asian nations to explore the values of cultural, genetic, and historical similarities and provide solutions to identity problems that are being faced by Asian countries today, especially Indonesia in increasing awareness of identity.
The migration process was a turning point for human civilization in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, because the culture it brought quickly spread and became a culture that still survives today. “How is the process of the spread of Austronesian language speakers and its influence on culture in Southeast Asia. How was the development of Austronesian culture and society in the period 4500-1500 years ago, as well as the story of Austronesian exploration across the Indian Ocean. We will find the answers to these questions in this Summer Course,” said Noor Naelil Masruroh, M. Hum. as the Coordinator of the Summer Course Program from the Master Program.
This Summer Course presented nine speakers with their respective expertise. On the first day, Adhi Agus Oktaviana, Ph.D. (Cand) from the Center for Prehistoric and Austronesian Studies, Indonesia and Griffith University, Australia, explained about “Austronesian Painting Traditional in Indonesian Rock Arts.”
On the second day, Prof. Dr. James T. Collins, a Language expert from the Institute of Ethnic Studies at the National University of Malaysia, explained “Austronesian Language Family Diaspora,” followed by a presentation from Gazi Mizanur Rahman, Ph.D. BRAC University, Bangladesh, on “The Austric People in the Bengal Delta: Migration and Discontents of the Santal Community,” and Dr. Phil. Stefan Danerek Lund University, Sweden, on “Austronesian Rituals: Construction Sacrifice in Eastern Indonesia.”
Furthermore, on the third day, Dr. Dan Bendrups from La Trobe University, Australia, delivered material entitled “Austronesian Music in Southeast Asia.” The discussion of Austronesian songs was delivered by Tim Cole, Co-founder of ‘Small Island Big Song,’ an Australian music producer and filmmaker titled, “Connecting Songs among the Austronesian, Descents.” In addition, it also discussed the cultural traces of Austronesian nomads by Prof. Dr. Ismail Ali, from Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia, with the title “Tracing The Civilization of Austronesian Seafarers in the Archipelagic of Southeast Asia: A Preliminary Study.”
Another highly anticipated presentation was “Genetics Identification of Austronesian DNA in Indonesia” by Prof. Herawati Sudoyo, M.D., Ph.D. from Mochtar Riadi Institute for Nanotechnology, Pelita Harapan University, Indonesia. The last presentation was by Prof. Dr. Pierre-Yves Manguin from E cole française d’Extre me-Orient France on “Austronesian Shipping in the Indian Ocean: Outrigger Boats to Trading Ships.”