The Study Program’s Association General Leader, Dr. Intan Rizky Mutiaz, M.Ds., expressed the important objective of this year’s meeting, achieving better learning targets of the VCD program for the year to come. “Through this occasion, we’re all in line on improving the VCD Study Program,” he remarked during the speech.

The professor of VCD from the Faculty of Arts and Design ITB expressed how VCD is a field of study built on multidisciplinary framework, originating from the realm of fine arts and design. However, throughout its development, VCD not only focuses on both aspects, but also integrated communications, psychology, anthropology, sociology, culture, and technological development. Therefore, the existence of VCD holds an important position in the creative economy industry.

The Vice Head of Commission X Indonesian Republic House of Representatives, Hetifah Sjaifudian, attended the event virtually during the opening ceremony. In his speech, Hetifah expressed how creativity is invaluable in the modern era. “From the government to the private sector, we require the creative touch to convey the message for the public,” she remarked.

The VCD field has an important role to realize the Indonesian dream in producing excellent human resources, which is a reasonable notion considering the positive projection of VCD’s prospects in the following years, especially in post-pandemic and digitalization era. “In the digital world, visuals are a key in presenting a product. Our common task is to build a visual culture as well as improving visual literacy when communicating in the digital era,” she explained.

She also added that 2045 will mark the 100th anniversary of Indonesian independence. Therefore, Indonesia is in need of adept human resources, which must be prepared from the present through an adaptive and innovative VCD curriculum that produces creative individuals for the promising future of Indonesia. “I hope that the VCD study program will be developed further in various regions, including East Kalimantan which will serve as the capital city later on,” she added.

The meeting was also attended by the Director of Culinary, Crafts, Design, and Fashion of the Indonesian Republic’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Yuke Sri Rahayu. She expressed the potential of VCD in the Ministry’s creative industry policy development, where the institution wholeheartedly supports VCD, such as through the ‘Packaging Design Unpacking’ program.

Through this program, the Ministry provided an opportunity for VCD personages to interact with various brands who have created exceptional designs, which has positively impacted the creative economic body and many other sub-sectors. “This program has supported the small-to-medium business industry, particularly in product packaging,” she explained.

The meeting was held for three days, 12th-14th July 2023, with more than 60 VCD study programs from various Indonesian universities participating in it.

Translator: Firzana Aisya

Editor: Ayesha Lativa Mafaza