UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon and BBP Jabar Set Partnership Plan for BIPA Development
Cirebon, June 23, 2025 — A promising plan for collaboration between the International Office of UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon (UINSSC) and Balai Bahasa Provinsi Jawa Barat (BBP Jabar) has begun to take shape, marked by a joint event on Monday, June 23, 2025. This collaboration was introduced during the Bimbingan Teknis Pengajaran BIPA held at Grage Hotel Cirebon, which brought together 30 BIPA educators and activists from Cirebon City and Regency. These participants came from institutions dedicated to teaching Bahasa Indonesia to foreigners (BIPA) and promoting local culture.
This technical training not only served as a capacity-building event but also as a key milestone in the growing partnership between UINSSC and BBP Jabar. Mr. Lala Bumela Sudimantara, Ph.D., Head of the International Office of UINSSC, delivered a strong message of support for this initiative. “We believe that Cirebon holds great cultural and linguistic potential. With a focused collaboration like this, we can strengthen BIPA and make it more relevant globally,” He stated. His presence emphasized the university’s commitment to internationalization and cultural outreach.
The plan for collaboration includes joint activities in BIPA curriculum development, research, cultural exchange programs, and educator training. BBP Jabar, through its BIPA working team, expressed enthusiasm for expanding cooperation with higher education institutions, especially UIN SSC, which has shown active involvement in international education. Dr. Herawati, M.A., Head of BBP Jabar, officially opened the event and emphasized the importance of synergy in strengthening language education.
Through this upcoming collaboration, the International Office of UINSSC aims to position itself as a central hub for BIPA programs in the region. The office plans to facilitate language learning for international students, provide training for educators, and promote Cirebon’s local wisdom through academic and cultural exchanges. This vision aligns with the broader goal of UINSSC to become a globally connected institution grounded in local values.
The bimtek featured expert speakers such as Roslina Sawitri, M.Pd. from Institut Teknologi Bandung, who discussed effective methodologies and the creation of digital BIPA learning media. Dr. M. Irfan Hidayatullah, M.Hum., from Universitas Padjadjaran, focused on integrating Cirebonese culture into lesson planning and evaluation. Their insights are expected to serve as the foundation for future collaborative research and module development involving UINSSC and BBP Jabar.
Participants responded enthusiastically to the sessions, showing that the educational and cultural potential of Cirebon is ready to be explored further. By embedding local culture into BIPA learning, educators can attract more international learners and promote the uniqueness of Cirebon as a language learning destination. This aligns well with UIN SSC’s mission to promote Indonesian language and Islamic values through a modern, inclusive academic approach.
In the coming months, UINSSC and BBP Jabar will finalize a formal agreement outlining specific programs and responsibilities. Both institutions are committed to continuing this cooperation through structured action plans that include follow-up training, curriculum innovation, and outreach to international partners. As the collaboration moves forward, it promises to create long-term impacts for the development of BIPA not only in Cirebon but potentially across West Java and beyond.
Author: Cyrila Zahra Tsania