CRCMD Receives Several Internal Research Grants from UPN Veteran East Java in 2026

Several researchers from the Center for Research on Culture, Media, and Diversity (CRCMD) have successfully secured an internal research grant from the UPN Veteran Jawa Timur for the 2026 fiscal year. This achievement demonstrates CRCMD’s academic productivity in developing multidisciplinary research focused on culture, media, technology, and social diversity.

CRCMD Coordinator, Dr Zainal Abidin Achmad, was also involved in the research, which received funding from the 2026 internal grant through collaborative research on communication, digital media, and social transformation. This involvement strengthens CRCMD’s position as a research center actively promoting the development of cultural and media studies based on social impact.

CRCMD Secretary, Aryo Bayu Wibisono, also secured a research grant for his project entitled “A Documentary Photography Approach Reveals the Intangible Space of Acculturation of the Bantenese, Bugis, and Cirebon Tribes in Karangantu, Banten.” The research addressed the issue of representing cultural identity and acculturation through a documentary photography approach.

In the field of inclusive technology, CRCMD member Intania Widyantari Kirana, from the Industrial Engineering Study Program, and her team received funding for their research project, “Feasibility Study and Proof of Concept of Multisensory Interfaces on Cash Registers as an Accessibility Solution for the Blind.” This study focused on developing accessible technology to support the independence of people with visual disabilities in daily transaction activities.

Furthermore, CRCMD member Dr Gideon Setyo Budiwitjaksono, from the accounting department, also received a thesis/dissertation research grant for his study, "The Influence of Perceived Anonymity and Risk of Retaliation on Whistleblowing Intentions, with Professional Commitment as a Moderator among Civil Servants in Pamekasan Regency." This research highlighted issues of governance, professional ethics, and whistleblowing behaviour in the public sector.

The Chair of CRCMD stated that this research grant achievement is an important step in strengthening the collaborative research ecosystem within the university. “Through its diverse research themes, CRCMD strives to deliver research that is not only academically relevant but also has a direct impact on society, public policy, and socio-cultural technological developments in Indonesia,” explained Achmad Zainal Abidin.

The success of CRCMD members in securing internal research grants in 2026 demonstrates the strong culture of collaborative, interdisciplinary research within CRCMD. The diverse research themes addressed, ranging from gender and digital media, visual culture, inclusive technology, and public governance, reflect CRCMD’s commitment to delivering research relevant to contemporary societal challenges and the digital transformation in Indonesia.