Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Bonnie Triyana Visits the Faculty of Letters at the University of Hasanuddin
Makassar, April 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Hasanuddin University welcomed a visit from Bonnie Triyana, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives and historian, who toured several academic facilities, including the Mandala Majapahit Reading Room, the Archaeology Laboratory and the History Laboratory.
During the visit, Bonnie Triyana was accompanied by the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Andi Muhammad Akhmar, S.S., M.Hum., and the Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ilham, M.Hum. Her presence provided an important opportunity to discuss the role of reading rooms and laboratories as centres for the development of knowledge and as a bridge to bring history and archaeology into the public sphere.
As a historian, Bonnie is widely known for his role in founding the magazine Historia and his involvement in establishing the Multatuli Museum. He emphasised that history must be present in the public sphere so that society does not lose its sense of identity. “History is the collective memory of a nation, serving as a mirror for shaping the future,” he said.
The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at Unhas, Prof. Dr. Andi Muhammad Akhmar, welcomed this visit by highlighting the importance of collaboration between academics and policymakers. “Mr Bonnie’s visit has given us new inspiration to continue making our laboratories and reading rooms centres of learning that are relevant to the needs of the community,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr Ilham, M.Hum., added that this visit served as an incentive for the academic community to become even more creative in bringing history and archaeology into the public sphere. “We want to ensure that the outcomes of research and learning in this faculty do not stop at the classroom, but are truly present and meaningful to the wider community,” he said.
This visit strengthens the synergy between the academic world and public policy, whilst reaffirming the commitment of the Archaeology and History Programme at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Hasanuddin, to continue making tangible contributions to society through research, education, and community service.