Yogyakarta, October 15th 2020—The anniversary of Fisipol which is always celebrated lively, felt different this year. Because, in its 65th anniversary, it was celebrated in the middle of a pandemic era that is full of challenges. Because of that, Fisipol reflected the challenges that its faced through reflective discussion called “Social Sciences and Higher Education in a Pandemic Period” on YouTube Live on Thursday (15/10).
The reflective discussion was opened by the delivery of a speech titled as “Social Sciences and the Covid-19 Pandemic: Scientific Opportunities and Challenges in a Networked Society”, which was delivered by Haryanto as the Professor of the Department of Politics and Government.
Haryanto said that technological advances have helped us interact in different spaces. Therefore, social science which researches and analyzes social phenomena needs to rearrange its thinking, so that social science can be more dynamic in encouraging social transformation. Social science analyzes human relations that undergo changes due to the mediation of technology as explained by Manuel Castells regarding network society.
“It is important to understand the networks in our scientific tradition, the dynamics are affected by many factors. In a network, humans are not only connected to each other, but also to viruses, technology, and others. Network dynamics require social sciences responses, where social sciences need to reconsider its analysis which is too focused on the dimensions of actors and institutions that tend to be static. Social science needs to understand more deeply of the character and workings of networks with the keywords; interconnection, network, and collaboration, in order to be better in managing social change,” Haryanto said.
“The pandemic is a momentum to seek a better understanding of social sciences in a more holistic and interdisciplinary manner. An increasingly connected world is a history that we are writing together,” Haryanto added.
After the reading of the speech was over, the event was continued with a reflective discussion which was filled by the civitas academica of Fisipol, from the lecturers, education staff, alumnus, to students. Wawan Mas’udi dan Poppy Sulistyaning Winanti as the lecturers of Fisipol, talked about the changes in the pandemic era, most of which have been written in a book entitled as New Normal: Perubahan Sosial Ekonomi dan Politik Pasca COVID-19 that was launched in August.
Furthermore, Ade Siti Barokah as a Fisipol alumnus who is engaged in philanthropic activism, shared her experiences in accompanying marginal and vulnerable communities that faced many challenges in this pandemic time. Such as difabel community who do not have the privilege of accessing jobs which became harder in this pandemic time.
Uling Subogo, the staff of the Fisipol education staff, also told about the change in the working mechanism in the last 2.5 months at home. Many innovations were created during the pandemic, one of it was GPS-based presence via cell phones. Apart from Ulin, Anggie Marthin as a Fisipol student also shared her experiences from a student’s point of view. From online student social service to the changes of learning methods which all of those needed good management.
At the end of the event, FISIPOL also inaugurated a new service called the Laptop Loan Movement (GPL/Gerakan Pinjam Laptop), that is a laptop loan service to students who are working on their final project and have limited devices. Through this service, Fisipol hopes that students can be helped in doing their final project.