EduAsiaNews, Tanjung Pinang – The Graduate School of Raja Ali Haji Maritime University (UMRAH) welcomed an academic visit from a research team of Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) on Monday (July 6) as part of efforts to strengthen research collaboration in the fields of gastronomy, Malay culture, and cross-border tourism.
The visit formed part of a research project entitled “Gastrotourism and Cross-Border Cultural Practices in a Serumpun Malay World: Food Culture, Mobility, and Everyday Encounters in Batam–Bintan, Riau Islands Province.” The study explores Malay food culture, community mobility, and everyday cultural practices in the Batam and Bintan regions, which share a common Malay cultural heritage.
The research team is led by Gregorius Andika Ariwibowo, S.S., M.A., from BRIN and includes researchers from several institutions, including UMRAH. Representing UMRAH is Dr. Anastasia Wiwik Swastiwi, M.A., who also serves as Deputy Director for Academic Affairs, Planning, and Student Affairs at the UMRAH Graduate School.
The Director of the UMRAH Graduate School, Dr. Rumzi Samin, S.Sos., M.Si., personally welcomed the research team, reaffirming the university’s commitment to strengthening research networks and academic partnerships, particularly in advancing studies on Malay gastronomy.
According to Dr. Rumzi, collaboration between higher education institutions and national research agencies represents a strategic approach to producing research that not only enriches academic knowledge but also contributes meaningfully to cultural preservation and regional development.
The event also featured two distinguished speakers: Dr. Raja Suzana Fitri, M.Pd., an expert in Malay gastronomy, and Drs. H. Thamrin Dahlan, a prominent Malay cultural figure from the Riau Islands who has long been dedicated to documenting the traditions and cultural heritage of the Malay community.
During the discussion, both speakers shared their perspectives on gastronomy as a cultural identity, an element of intangible cultural heritage, and a potential driver of gastronomic tourism in border regions. Their insights are expected to enrich the research findings while supporting broader efforts to preserve Malay cultural heritage amid the growing dynamics of cross-border mobility.
Through this engagement, the UMRAH Graduate School reaffirmed its commitment to serving as a center for knowledge development with a focus on maritime studies and Malay heritage. The collaboration among BRIN, UMRAH, academics, and cultural leaders is expected to generate new ideas, policy recommendations, and sustainable partnerships that will advance the preservation and development of Malay culture as a source of academic, social, and economic strength, particularly in the Riau Islands and the broader Malay world.
