Thursday, 26 February 2026— President University organized a Seminar & Discussion of The Defense Heritage Newest Book under the theme “Unpacking Defense Heritage Through Literature.” The forum brought together academics and practitioners to examine defense heritage from multiple perspectives.

One of the key insights was delivered by Dr. Saparudin Barus, S.T., M.M., Acting Head of the Museum, Monument, and Library Division at the Indonesian Army History Center and lecturer at the Military History Study Program of Indonesian Defense University. He emphasized that defense heritage is an integral part of national identity and plays a significant role in strengthening the foundations of the nation.

According to him, the existence of defense heritage contributes substantially to key pillars of nationhood, including ideological, cultural, social, and historical resilience. He explained that preserving defense heritage is not only about maintaining historical artifacts, but also about reinforcing the values and identity that shape a nation’s continuity.

He also highlighted several challenges in preserving defense heritage in Indonesia. “Limited integration between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Defense remains a major obstacle, hindering coordinated efforts. In addition, the absence of a comprehensive national database, the increasing pressure of commercial urbanization, and relatively weak digitalization efforts further complicate the preservation of this strategic heritage,” he stated.