The Museum and Ethnographic Study Center Universitas Airlangga is a specialized museum located on the campus of Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya, East Java. It stands out as one of Indonesia’s first university museums with a thematic focus on cultural anthropology and death studies, offering visitors a compelling educational experience.
This museum serves as a space for the collection, exhibition, and study of cultural artifacts that shed light on human social practices, especially those related to death and funeral traditions across Indonesia. Instead of presenting death as something frightening, the museum frames it as a rich area of cultural expression.
Unlike general history museums, it is classified as a special museum focused on anthropological culture, educational research, and the exploration of social phenomena.
Type and Management The Museum and Ethnographic Study Center Universitas Airlangga
The museum is categorized as a special museum, Type C, reflecting its thematic and academic focus within the context of cultural anthropology and ethnography.
The museum is owned by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Universitas Airlangga and managed by the Department of Anthropology. This academic oversight ensures that the museum’s activities align with educational and research objectives.
History of The Museum and Ethnographic Study Center Universitas Airlangga
Established on 25 September 2005, the museum was founded to house and display anthropology-related collections under the initiative of the anthropology department. Over time, it became registered with the Asosiasi Museum Daerah (AMIDA) of East Java.
In March 2016, it was re‑inaugurated by the Director General of Culture, introducing a renewed exhibition concept centered on the theme of death a universal aspect of human life that varies significantly across cultures and societies.
Vision of The Museum and Ethnographic Study Center Universitas Airlangga
While the official museum profile does not explicitly state a documented vision, the institution’s purpose clearly aims to be a center for education, cultural research, and learning that engages the public and stimulates intellectual curiosity through anthropological perspectives.
Mission The Museum and Ethnographic Study Center Universitas Airlangga
The museum’s mission can be summarized as follows:
- To provide a rich educational platform for anthropology and cultural studies.
- To promote research and understanding of social practices, especially those surrounding death.
- To present cultural information in engaging ways that encourage learning.
- To contextualize local cultural practices within broader anthropological frameworks.
Role in Education & Community
The museum plays a significant role in supporting academic research, student learning, and public education. Its collections, including human skeletal remains and cultural artifacts, are valuable resources for understanding human evolution, cultural diversity, and social behavior.
Through its interactive and thoughtful curation, the Museum and Ethnographic Study Center Universitas Airlangga has become a notable cultural and educational destination in Surabaya, appealing to both scholars and general visitors interested in anthropology, culture, and human life.
