PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The West Java Provincial Government presented Assistant Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, Prof. Bagus Muljadi, at the West Java Climate Adaptation and Sustainability Symposium at Bale Pakuan Building (26/6/2026) to strengthen Sundanese culture-based education.

Prof. Bagus Muljadi said that Bujangga Manik was an exemplary seeker of knowledge who shaped the way of thinking, character, and civilization of the Sundanese people.

"Bujangga Manik was the first Sundanese diaspora to return to his ancestral land bringing knowledge," he said.

According to Prof. Bagus, the Bujangga Manik manuscript stored in the Bodleian Library, Oxford proves that Sundanese society has had a strong intellectual tradition for centuries.

He explained that Bujangga Manik's journey gave birth to knowledge about territorial boundaries, toponymy, ethnobotany, art, military, and how society views life.

Prof. Bagus believes that these values are still relevant to be applied in education because they can shape the character, personality, and way of thinking of students.

He compared the education system in England which still places culture as the foundation before studying science and technology.

"Language and thinking are no different. Language is the human medium for thinking," he said, quoting philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Prof. Bagus said that Indonesia has many figures with strong educational values, but not many have become inspirations in the world of education.

"For me, Bujangga Manik is the Sundanese father of education. The right to think also belongs to Sundanese people. We have the right to generate knowledge and contribute to civilization," he concluded.

(Rep pun/bhf)