The Resource Center (RC) was established around 2008. In the beginning it was a sub-division of the Public Education and Research Division. Around 2010 (after 10 years of CRCS) these divisions were separated to become the Research Division and the Public Education Division. The Resource Center is under the Research Division. In 2013, the Resource Center changed to become the Data Center (DC). The function of the Resource Center is to collect and collate existing data in the Research Division. The RC team has a coordinator who is assisted by CRCS students. The data is in the form of media clippings (both printed and online), results of discussions or FGD, field reports and research reports. The collated data is distributed to CRCS researchers and lecturers as material for writing reports, monographs and books.
A. History
The idea to form the RC sub-division arose because the collection of field reports at CRCS had, at that stage, not been organised in an orderly manner. As a result, much of CRCS’s data, for example results from various research activities, workshops, conferences and discussions held at CRCS, were not codified and eventually disappeared. Hence, the significance and urgency for data management and the idea for a special institution to focus on managing CRCS data.
In 2008, CRCS began issuing work scholarships to students and encouraged student involvement in CRCS research and activities. As a result the RC’s level of work increased. Work in the RC involved not only taking care of existing data but also search and investigation of data. Search and investigation was done by clipping articles in selected local and national newspapers and magazines. This collected and collated data was beneficial for writing the Annual Report of Religious Life in 2009. At that time, the RC was also responsible for handling the CRCS website as it was still under the Division of Research and Public Education.
In 2009, the search and investigation of data via newspaper clippings expanded in scope. As well as the students, RC had local correspondents from 6 provinces: South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Medan, Aceh, Papua and Central Java. In this period, the RC also had clearer topics to be investigated ie those that fit with the requirements of the Annual Report of Religious Life. This model continued until 2010.
In 2011, the Resource Center conducted an evaluation on the significance of the local media. From this it was considered there was a lack of important data for the requirement of the Annual Report of Religions Life, and as a result local correspondence ceased. In exchange, investigation of online media was added. During this year, RC also began increasing its tasks. RC started binding clippings, according to media or topic name, with topics being arranged chronologically. In addition, RC also programmed online treasure for certain topics. Oftentimes this program is very beneficial in the process of writing a Report or Monograph. However, this particular program is only carried out if required.
In 2012, as well as continuing the previous years programs, RC began thinking about digitalising their clippings. Clippings were scanned and made into one folder according to topic. One fundamental consideration for digitalising was due to space; the room in the Graduate School Library and the RC room were inadequate to store entire bundles of clippings. Another consequence was that RC became more selective in choosing media to be clipped. Newspapers were limited to nationals only. There was a limit of two magazines. And online media was increased. However in 2013, online media was reduced again because of the tendency for newspaper content and online media to be similar. In 2013, RC changed name to become the Data Center.
In 2014, the Data Center changed the work model again. Newspaper articles were no longer cut but replaced with scanning. The collection of news became more selective; not just any news about religious life is collected but news, cases or events that are “hot” each day or week. Likewise, the news which is selected for scanning is not all the news which appears across several media, rather only the more complete reporting (unless there is news which complements other news). Further to the aforementioned tasks, DC also does direct investigation in the field, as far as it is required for the writing of the Annual Report or for the purpose of writing other research.
B. Program
- News Clipping
- Scan Topic Clipping
- Chronicle of Case or Event
- Online Treasure
- Annotated Bibliography
- Literature Treasure
C. Outcome
Since forming in 2008, DC has produced a lot of work. The majority of this work is the Annual Report on Religious Life. The rest consists of monographs and books. Among those that can be mentioned are:
- Annual Report on Religious Life 2009
- Annual Report on Religious Life 2010
- Annual Report on Religious Life 2011
- Annual Report on Religious Life 2012
- Serial Report on Religious Life: “Politics of Religious Education: Curriculum 2013 and Public School Space”
- Serial Report on Religious Life: “Local Politics and Religious Conflict: Elections and Political Opportunity Structure in Religious Conflict in Sampang, Bekasi and Kupang.
- Monograph: “Religion in Indonesia in Numbers: Demographic Dynamics Based on the 2000 and 2010 Population Census
- Monograph: “Papua’s Hidden Pearl: Potential for Local Wisdom for Peace in Papua”
Besides the above, DC stores a collection of bundled data clippings arranged by topic. Among them are:
- House of Worship: 7 Bundles (from 2011-2013)
- Violence and Intolerance: 7 bundles (since 2011-2013)
- Radicalism and Terrorism: 6 Bundles (since 2011-2013)
- The Issue of Human Rights and Nationality: 7 bundles (since 2011-2013)
- Religion and Politics: 4 bundles (since 2011-2013)
- Mass organisations: 5 bundles
- Ahmadiyya: 6 bundles (from 2011-2013)
- Religious Rituals and Proselytisation: 3 bundles (since 2011-2013)
- Local Rituals: 2 bundles (since 2011-2013)
- Domestic violence and pornography: 3 bundles (since 2011-2013)
- Disasters and the Environment: 15 bundles (since 2011-2013)
In addition, there are around 200 bundles of clippings from local and national printed and online mass media since 2009 until 2011.
D. Accessibility
Data in the DC can be accessed by lecturers, researchers, students and CRCS alumni. DC uses a reciprocity model for alumni who wish to access data in the Data Center.
