On Thursday (7/27), the Art Therapy Center at Widyatama University held a graduation ceremony for LPK students and the first batch of students to complete their studies in the 2016/2017 academic year. Around 6 students participated in the graduation procession, which was held in the Seminar Room on the 4th floor of Building A at Widyatama University.
Also attending the graduation ceremony were the Chair of the Widyatama Foundation Management Board, Mrs. Sri Lestari Roespinoedji, S.H., Vice Rector for Operations, Human Resources and Finance, Mr. Dr. H. Nuryaman, S.E., M.Si., Ak., CA., as well as several representatives from the Deans and Bureaus within Widyatama University. Also present were representatives from the Creative Economy Agency (BEKRAF), Bandung City Manpower Office, Bandung City Education Office, West Java Provincial Social Office, RRI Bandung, Suryakanti Foundation, Rumah Kemasan, and PORTADIN.
The Widyatama Art Therapy Center was founded with the spirit and enthusiasm to educate the nation’s children, including those with disabilities, initiated by the late Prof. Dr. Hj. Koesbandijah Abdoelkadir S.E, M.Si, Ak., CA, founder of Widyatama University, and her son, the late T. Ontowiryo Abdoelkadir, S.E., M.BA. The therapy method used is the Sensory Method, discovered by Dr. Anne Nurfarina through shared passion and struggle. The Widyatama Art Therapy Center was established on March 15, 2014, and today it will graduate its first batch of students with disabilities, including deafness, autism, and ADHD. There are 3 students in the Job Training Program and 4 in the Special Treatment Program.
The three graduates of the Work Training Program prove that with a strategic, methodical, and focused education system, individuals with physical and mental disabilities can develop their abilities in graphic design, thereby acquiring competencies that meet the needs of the graphic design industry.
Of course, over the past four years, the Widyatama Art Therapy Center has experienced dynamic processes, meaning we have faced social, economic, cultural, and psychological challenges. Especially in dealing with stigma from the government, the general public, and the industry, which tends to doubt the abilities of people with disabilities, particularly mental disabilities. However, today we can prove that they have successfully created works that are applicable in this industry.
The Widyatama Art Therapy Center was established as a Vocational Training Institution with a license from the Bandung Manpower Office. In its development roadmap, this institution is in the process of becoming the Widyatama Indonesia Academy of Disability, abbreviated as ADWI. The study programs we have designed consist of a Graphic Design Study Program, Music Arts, and Craft Arts with a study period of 3 years, equivalent to a D3 degree. This education program is a representation of art and design science designed with a therapeutic dimension, namely to build communication and social behavior skills accompanied by level 5 practical skills in accordance with the provisions of the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI). The curriculum we have designed has undergone a review process by stakeholders consisting of elements from the government, industry (users), and educational institution partners, both SLB/SMA/SMK equivalents, in workshops and workshops (curriculum). Of course, this aims to build a strategic learning system that is on target and in line with the vision and mission of the Widyatama Art Therapy Center.
We would like to mention that the Widyatama Art Therapy Center has received several awards and grants in the field of community service and research. Alhamdulillah, this year, one of the lecturers and a team of four students from the Widyatama Art Therapy Center were selected as 30 finalists for the ORBIT (Indonesian Designer Selection) program organized by the Creative Economy Agency (BEKRAF). The selected project is the creation of graphic design learning media for people with intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments, and autism, which is useful for teaching and learning activities. We ask for your prayers so that our team can reach the finals and win this competition. In addition, two of our instructors are part of the team that compiled the Training Guidelines for 15 creative economy sectors, namely the Fine Arts and Visual Communication Design sectors.
The teaching team at the Widyatama Art Therapy Center consists of practitioners in the fields of art and design who are graduates of ITB, UPI, UGM, UNPAS, and ISBI universities. The active students enrolled in the fourth year program have reached a total of 60 students with physical and mental disabilities from Bandung and its surrounding areas, Jakarta, Lampung, and Bali.
We ask for everyone’s prayers and support so that we can always uphold our commitment, consistency, and enthusiasm to continue carrying out this mandate. Congratulations to the graduates and their parents who have successfully completed this education with flying colors. Hopefully, job opportunities for graduates will be wide open so that they can implement their knowledge to improve their quality of life in the future. Amen, Yaa Robbal Alamiin. That concludes our remarks.
Director of the Widyatama Art Therapy Center
Dr. Anne Nurfarina, S.Sn., M.Sn
