Digital technology continues to transform almost every aspect of human life, including archive management, which has now become a strategic element for sustainable development. This was discussed in a public lecture themed “Peran Kearsipan dalam Pembangunan Berkelanjutan: Transformasi Kearsipan” (The Role of Archives in Sustainable Development: Transformation of Archives) organized by the Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), and the Association of Universities for Archives and Information Records Management (APTIPARI). This event aims to discuss the important role of archives in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiated by the United Nations (UN).
Dr. Andi Kasman, Deputy for Archives Systems and Information and Advisor to APTIPARI, explained that archives are now more than just a collection of documents. He emphasized that modern technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), plays a vital role in maintaining the relevance of archives amidst rapid global change. With technological advances, archives are now a crucial component in ensuring broad and sustainable access to information, which is in line with several SDGs goals.
During the lecture, Dr. Andi emphasized the importance of archives in supporting sustainable urban planning (SDGs 11) and climate change monitoring (SDGs 13). He stated that archives are not only records of the past, but also a bridge to building a better future. Thus, good archive management can make a significant contribution to the success of achieving the SDGs.
Andi also highlighted technological advances in archive digitization. With more than 5.44 billion internet users worldwide, technology is an important tool to support fast and broad access to information. He emphasized that AI is one of the biggest innovations in archive management, helping in the digitization and preservation of archives that are vulnerable to damage. For example, in the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in the United States, AI is used to automatically edit personal information.
Furthermore, Andi discussed the implementation of the Electronic-Based Government System (SPBNE), which aims to accelerate the transformation of archives into electronic systems. According to him, SPBNE supports more efficient, transparent, and accountable archive governance, while also being in line with UI’s efforts to support the SDGs through good information management.
UI Vocational Education Program Director, Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D., emphasized the importance of technology integration in archival education. He stated that by utilizing modern technology such as AI, UI can ensure that archives remain relevant and contribute to sustainable development. This event is expected to motivate students to adapt to technological developments in the world of archival and encourage networking between universities to improve the quality of education in this field.
