Learning the Meaning of Peace from Costa Rica at AJCUI
12/3/2025 12:00:00 AM
Jakarta, 3 December 2025 — Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia (AJCUI) hosted a public lecture titled “Moving Towards a Global Culture of Peace: The Costa Rica Experience” at the Semanggi Campus, bringing together students, lecturers, and academic staff to reflect on peace, diversity, and shared global values. The event highlighted Costa Rica’s unique journey as a nation that abolished its military and built a strong culture of peace through education, dialogue, and social development. The session opened with national anthems of Indonesia and Costa Rica, followed by opening remarks from Prof. Dr. dr. Yuda Turana, Sp.S(K), Rector of AJCUI, who emphasized the importance of learning from international perspectives to strengthen mutual understanding and global citizenship within the university community. A token of appreciation was then presented to the guest speaker as a symbol of friendship and collaboration.
The main lecture was delivered by Mr. Francisco José Masís Holdridge from the Embassy of Costa Rica, who shared insights into Costa Rica’s decision to abolish its military and how this policy shaped the country’s long-term commitment to peace, democracy, and human development. His presentation invited participants to reflect on how peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but a continuous effort supported by education, social justice, and inclusive dialogue. The discussion was further enriched by a lecture from Dr. Nugroho Adipradana, S.H., M.Sc, representing AJCUI, who connected Costa Rica’s experience with Indonesia’s national philosophy of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika. He highlighted the relevance of peacebuilding values in Indonesia’s diverse society and the role universities play in nurturing tolerance, respect, and civic responsibility among students. Through this lecture, AJCUI reaffirmed its commitment to fostering global awareness and meaningful dialogue, encouraging students to see peace not only as a concept, but as a shared practice across cultures and nations. (RBA)
