PONTIANAK - An academic representative from the Multicultural and Border Education Research Unit of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Universitas Tanjungpura (Untan), was invited as a speaker on a Public Dialogue program broadcast by TVRI West Kalimantan. The one-hour program addressed the theme "Important Issues in Education in Border Areas" and was broadcast live on Monday, January 13, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Western Indonesia Time.

Hosted by Nurul, the program featured two main speakers who discussed the educational landscape in the border areas of West Kalimantan. The first speaker was Iwan Ramadhan, M.Pd., Head of the Multicultural and Border Education Research Unit at FKIP Untan and a lecturer in the Sociology Education Study Program. The second speaker was Rendi Fahrizal, S.Pd., Founder of the Bina Pendidikan Kita movement in West Kalimantan.

During the discussion, Iwan Ramadhan, M.Pd. presented his academic perspective on the importance of a multicultural approach and research mapping based on local contexts in outermost regions. He emphasized that education policy in border areas cannot be standardized in the same way as policy for urban areas, but must instead adapt to local cultural diversity and indigenous knowledge.

Rendi Fahrizal, S.Pd. complemented the discussion with a practical perspective based on his experience working with communities in the field. He described various challenges faced by students and educators along the national border, including accessibility issues, limited facilities and infrastructure, and the need for motivational support for children in border communities.

The active participation of a Sociology Education lecturer from FKIP Untan in the broadcast demonstrates the university's academic contribution to regional development. Through the presence of experts in public forums, discussions and solutions concerning education at the nation's frontiers are expected to reach a wider audience and encourage concrete action from various stakeholders.