Jayapura – The Vice Rector III of Cenderawasih University (Uncen) in Jayapura, Papua, Dr. Septinus Saa, S.Sos., M.Si, emphasized that development in Papua must prioritize a cultural-based approach, considering the region’s vast ethnic and social diversity.
He noted that Papua is home to approximately 250 indigenous tribes, each with distinct ethnic identities and environmental backgrounds. This diversity, he said, requires a comprehensive understanding of Papua, particularly in the context of development planning.
“The most appropriate approach to developing Papua should be through a cultural and anthropological understanding of Papuan people,” Septinus Saa said during the 48th anniversary celebration of Uncen’s Anthropology Department at the FISIP Uncen Hall in Jayapura, Friday (January 9, 2026).
According to him, the anniversary celebration should not only serve as a moment of reflection, but also as a reminder of the academic responsibility to carry out the university’s tridharma, namely education, research, and community service.
He stressed that research plays a crucial role in strengthening academic knowledge and ensuring that it is properly applied to support Papua’s development. Understanding Papua’s cultural diversity, he added, can only be achieved through a strong anthropological approach.
“Through anthropology, we can truly understand Papua’s diversity in terms of culture and social life. With that understanding, development approaches can be more accurate because they are grounded in the anthropological characteristics of Papuan society,” he explained.
Septinus further stated that all development stakeholders in Papua must have a sound anthropological understanding of the region’s diverse communities.
He expressed hope that in the future, Uncen would strengthen its Core Scientific Pattern (PIP) by emphasizing anthropology, culture, and environmental studies, enabling the university to develop a distinctive academic identity.
“We must highlight what makes us different and unique. Uncen can position itself with a core scientific pattern based on anthropology, culture, and the environment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Uncen, Dr. Marlina Flassy, S.Sos., M.Hum., Ph.D, also underscored that a cultural approach is the most appropriate strategy for development in Papua, given the region’s cultural diversity across four major geographic zones.
She explained that Papuan communities living in coastal areas differ significantly from those in lowland regions, highlands, swamps, hilly areas, and mountainous zones.
“Papuan people in coastal regions are different from those in lowland areas, as well as from communities in the highlands, swamps, hills, and mountainous regions,” she said.
Marlina emphasized that a cultural-based development framework is capable of addressing many of the development challenges faced in Papua.
“We should not assume that all Papuans are the same. While they may share ethnic similarities, their cultures are highly diverse, and therefore development approaches must also differ,” she added.
