About Us

Historically, the establishment of Balai Bahasa (Language Center) of Universitas Negeri Malang is rooted in a long tradition of language development at UM dating back to the era of PTPG Malang in the 1950s, when the Department of Indonesian Language and Literature was among the pioneering departments. This development continued through the IKIP Malang period and later UM, with the Faculty of Letters serving as the primary home of language development, until the Language Center eventually attained its position as a technical implementing unit (UPT) within the university’s institutional structure.

Although the initial foundations of language development had emerged as early as the 1950s, the early form of what is now the modern Language Center at UM appeared much later, through initiatives of the academic community within the Faculty of Letters. Its origins can be traced to a community service unit in the Department of English known as the Community Service Unit (CSU), established in the early 2000s on the initiative of Mr. Gunedi. At that time, CSU organized language courses and cultural activities for both the internal and external UM community. Growing service demands and the increasing workload of the department prompted the faculty leadership, under Mr. Parno, to develop CSU into an official faculty-level institution, which later became the embryo of the Language and Culture Center of the Faculty of Letters, UM.

The initial purpose of establishing the Language and Culture Center of the Faculty of Letters, UM, was closely related to the need to improve foreign language proficiency, particularly English, among lecturers and administrative staff intending to pursue further studies abroad. All prospective candidates for overseas study were required to participate in language training organized by this institution, and the Directorate General of Higher Education (DIKTI) even entrusted it with organizing similar training programs for lecturers from various universities across Indonesia. This trust strengthened the strategic position of the Language and Culture Center of the Faculty of Letters, UM, at the national level.

In its early stage, the institution did not yet possess a well-established organizational structure and did not receive functional allowances. Three divisions were formed—Indonesian, Arabic, and English—but only the English division developed consistently. Early figures such as Mr. Imam and later Mr. Sugeng Handayana played key roles in the initial management of the institution. In 2007, leadership transitioned to Mr. Suharmanto, who served for two consecutive terms (2007–2015), before being succeeded by Mr. Gatut Susanto in 2015. A major change occurred in 2016, when the Language Center and the Indonesian for Speakers of Other Languages (BIPA) unit were separated, with Ms. Utari Praba Astuti appointed as Director of the Language Center, while Mr. Gatut led BIPA.

During Ms. Utari’s leadership, the two units were reunified based on rectorate policy. However, this integration was not permanent due to differing service targets, and in the subsequent period the Language Center and BIPA were separated once again. The Language Center was focused on improving foreign language proficiency among UM students and lecturers, while BIPA concentrated on teaching Indonesian to international students. Leadership then continued under Ms. Sari Karmina. UM’s transformation into a State University with Legal Entity Status (PTNBH) in 2023 changed the status of the Language and Culture Center of the Faculty of Letters, UM, into a university-level unit, thereby significantly expanding its mandate and scope.

This structural change intersected with the long-standing dynamic nature of organizational governance at UM, as reflected in the restructuring of other units based on the Regulation of the Minister of Education and Culture No. 30 of 2012. In this context, the position of the Language Center as a technical implementing unit (UPT) became part of a broader systemic reorganization within the university.

The expansion of the Language Center’s mandate at UM was further reinforced by the implementation of the UKBING requirement as a graduation prerequisite for students. This policy positioned the Language Center as a strategic service provider for all UM students. At the same time, the Language Center also extended its services to the general public, including a six-month intensive program for LPDP scholarship recipients, and became a local partner for international testing institutions such as IELTS. Collaboration with schools in conducting language competency assessments further broadened the institution’s service reach.

The contribution of the UM Language Center to improving the quality of UM graduates has been considered significant, particularly after it came directly under the university’s authority. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including limitations in administrative and operational authority, as all strategic decisions must be approved by university leadership. Human resource management also presents difficulties, as most instructors are lecturers with existing tri-dharma obligations or part-time instructors without permanent institutional affiliation, resulting in inconsistent availability of expertise. The recruitment of part-time instructors thus serves as a temporary solution.

Despite these challenges, the UM Language Center continues to grow through foreign language courses, UKBING services, training programs for the general public, and the strengthening of external networks. Looking ahead, the expansion of services to other languages such as Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and Arabic represents a realistic prospect. In the digital and artificial intelligence era, the capacity to produce learning content and textbooks is also a strategic direction expected to strengthen the position of the UM Language Center as a center of excellence in language competence development for the UM academic community and the wider society.