From “Unity in Diversity” to the practice of multicultural governance: Insights from the Consul General of Indonesia shared with Asian Studies students

At the invitation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, Ms. Carolina Tinangon – Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City, visited and delivered a special thematic lecture for graduate students in Asian Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City.

The event took place within the framework of the module “Ethnic Conflicts in Asian Societies,” aiming to bridge academic theory with practical governance experiences from ASEAN countries.

During the exchange, Ms. Carolina Tinangon presented on the topic “Indonesia’s Approaches to Multicultural Governance and Cohesion”. The presentation provided students with a vivid picture of how Indonesia manages a society with high diversity in ethnicity, language, religion, and culture.

Sharing with the students, the Consul General emphasized the importance of the national motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity). She stated that this principle, combined with the national ideology Pancasila, has become a solid constitutional foundation to create an inclusive governance system, ensuring equal citizenship rights and protecting minority groups.

In the context of the course on conflict prevention, the presentation drew particular attention by delving into how Indonesia balances national unity and local identity through decentralized governance mechanisms and national-level interfaith dialogues.

Besides policies at the national level, Ms. Carolina Tinangon also highlighted the role of grassroots initiatives in building social cohesion. Through practical examples on Serangan island and in Bali, she showed that communities with different religious and cultural backgrounds can still live together peacefully, share living spaces, cooperate in livelihoods, and respect each other's religious institutions.

The discussion took place in an open and intimate atmosphere. Graduate students had the opportunity to ask questions and exchange directly with the Consul General on issues such as multicultural governance, conflict prevention, diversity education, the role of local communities, and challenges in maintaining social cohesion in the context of globalization.

On behalf of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan sincerely thanked Ms. Carolina Tinangon for taking the time to visit, share practical experiences, and engage in an open exchange with students. Her presence and insights helped students gain a comparative perspective on multicultural governance, conflict prevention, and building social cohesion within the ASEAN context.

On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan awarded a certificate, a souvenir, and respectfully presented the Consul General with the book "Sacred Landscapes and Living Heritage in Southeast Asia". This publication was co-published with the sponsorship of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City, with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan as the Editor-in-Chief, and Ms. Carolina Tinangon and Prof. Dr. Phil. I Ketut Ardhana as co-editors.

The book is the proceedings of the international conference “Connecting Buddhist Heritage in Southeast Asia: A Comparative Study of Borobudur – Dong Duong and the Issue of Preserving Shared Heritage”, gathering studies on Buddhist heritage, sacred landscapes, and living heritage in Southeast Asia, thereby promoting comparative approaches and connecting heritage between Vietnam, Indonesia, and the region.

Presenting the book at the exchange holds special significance, both expressing gratitude for the Indonesian Consulate General's companionship and support for academic activities, and acknowledging a concrete result of the Vietnam – Indonesia cooperation in research, publication, and preservation of the shared heritage of Southeast Asia.

Closing the session, the Consul General suggested many valuable lessons for students in researching diversity governance solutions, emphasizing the necessity of strengthening inclusive governance, expanding multicultural education, and sponsoring grassroots peace-building initiatives.

The exchange not only provided valuable practical materials for the “Ethnic Conflicts in Asian Societies” module but also contributed to enhancing academic exchange, educational cooperation, and people-to-people diplomacy between the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNUHCM and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City.

Through such connecting activities, the Faculty of Oriental Studies continues to aim at creating a training environment connected to regional reality, helping students not only access knowledge through textbooks but also engage in direct dialogue with diplomats, experts, and those involved in the policy-making and implementation process in Asian countries.