UI students initiated the first presidential candidate debate in Indonesia in April 1999 at the UI Faculty of Medicine Hall, Salemba. This was shown again in the UI Archives Collection Exhibition in March 2024, at UI Library, Depok. The photo of the presidential debate shows several candidates supported by the parties, including Amien Rais (National Mandate Party), Didin Hafidhuddin (Justice Party), Sri Bintang Pamungkas (Indonesian Democratic Union Party), and Yusril Ihza M. (Cunning Star Party).
The exhibition also displayed photos of UI alumni. Some of them are the Indonesian Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati; Deputy Chair of the National Commission on Human Rights for the 1993-1998 period, Miriam Budiardjo; prominent economist and environmental figure, Emil Salim; observer of violence against women, Andy Yentriyani; and renowned economist and banker, Agus Martowardojo. Books and writings from the figures were also displayed in this exhibition.
Secretary of UI, dr. Agustin Kusumayati, M.Sc., Ph.D., expressed her appreciation to all parties who contributed to UI’s progress. According to her, UI has gone through an extraordinary struggle to gain autonomy to become a research university. UI is committed to becoming an entrepreneurial university so that it can be financially independent and able to develop itself. “Hopefully, this exhibition can foster UI’s enthusiasm to continue working and provide the best for the nation and state,” said dr. Augustine.
The theme of UI’s 74th Anniversary, Continuously Building a Sustainable Indonesia, the UI Exhibition represents UI’s work in supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This photo exhibition displays 51 photos divided into five clusters: Education, Scientific Culture, Social-Society, UI Campus, and UI Figures. It displays dozens of historical documents in videos and audiovisuals that show UI’s long journey to becoming a green campus.
Since its inauguration in 1987, UI has carried out conservation efforts through planting trees and cultivating lakes. One of the photos shows the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia for the 1985-1988 and 1988-1993 periods, Prof. Dr. Fuad Hassan, who inaugurated the UI City Forest Green Crown Nursery Center in 1999. Now, the city forest and 6 artificial lakes at UI benefit the surrounding environment, especially as a water catchment area for Depok City.
UI Chancellor for the 2002-2007 period, Prof. Dr. Usman Chatib Warsa, Sp.MK, Ph.D., who was also present at the exhibition, said that this exhibition evoked a sense of nostalgia for UI to support the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) launched by the United Nations in 2000. According to him, UI provides many useful ideas and publications related to sustainability issues in Indonesia and the world.
Since ancient times, UI is a pioneer in developing sustainability solutions from a scientific and technological perspective. “This exhibition is extraordinary because the public, students, especially the younger generation, can learn about UI from time to time in supporting environmental sustainability for a sustainable Indonesia for our children and grandchildren,” he said.
