FIB Unhas Welcomes 1,020 New Students with a Blend of Culture and Digital Humanities
FIB Unhas – A total of 1,020 new students were officially welcomed with a lively cultural ceremony on Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The event, held at the “House of Culture,” marked the beginning of the academic journey for the new students who have now joined the FIB Unhas family.
From early morning, the faculty’s front yard was filled with new students accompanied by their parents and relatives. The organizing committee urged participants not to use private vehicles, creating an orderly atmosphere with a long line stretching all the way to the sidewalk.
The ceremony began with a procession led by representatives of the new students. Fourteen selected students led the procession. Ten of them carried department name boards, ranging from Indonesian Literature, English Literature, Arabic Literature, French Literature, History, Japanese Literature, Mandarin Literature, Archaeology, Tourism, to Regional Literature. Meanwhile, four other students—two men and two women—stood at the front of the line as symbols of Sulapa Eppa’, representing the harmony of Bugis-Makassar culture.
They were welcomed at the gate of the Cultural House with traditional Renjang Pui-pui music. The MC greeted them warmly: “Welcome, New Students of 2025, to the Cultural House of Hasanuddin University. A place where knowledge and culture meet.”
The highlight of the ceremony took place when the Dean of the Faculty of Letters, Prof. Andi Muhammad Akhmar, accompanied by the Deputy Deans, presented symbols of honor—passapu, bando, and kandore—to four student representatives. This ceremony was not merely symbolic but a formal sign that the new students are now part of the larger FIB Unhas family.
Also present during the pinning ceremony were the First Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, Dr. Ilham; the Second Deputy Dean for Planning and Resources, Dr. Rosmawati; and the Third Deputy Dean for Partnerships, Research, Innovation, and Alumni, Dr. Wahyudin.
Following the ceremony, the new students were treated to a cultural performance featuring Ramppak Gendang and Tari Manduppa Bosara. This performance signified that culture is not only studied but also brought to life within the FIB environment.
The event continued with a Cultural Address by the Dean of FIB, Prof. Andi Muhammad Akhmar, titled “Digital Humanities and the Responsibility of the New Generation.” In his address, he emphasized that humanities are humanity’s journey in seeking meaning through philosophy, literature, history, and art, which now enters a new phase in the digital era.
Prof. Akhmar outlined three major waves of transformation in the humanities: the digitization of texts, the emergence of new forms of knowledge, and the integration of technology into the humanities.