Yogyakarta, August 6, 2026—The PIONIR Society 2026 event series organized by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) at UGM continued today. Entering its second day, the program moved beyond mere academic orientation to actively foster critical thinking among new students. The day began with classroom reflection sessions, followed by sessions hosted by individual departments and their respective student associations. New students gained valuable opportunities to deepen their understanding of their study programs, prevailing academic culture, and other relevant aspects. Following the departmental sessions, the event proceeded to an “Action Consolidation” session themed “Educational Justice Amidst Uncertainty,” held in the West Concourse (Selasar Barat) area.
During this action consolidation session, new students were introduced to the process of advocacy and issue monitoring, and were encouraged to thoroughly analyze and dissect the issue of inequality in education. The activity served as a strategic space for students to unite their ideas, formulate specific demands, and refine their organizational readiness before taking to the streets to voice their aspirations. After the consolidation session, students engaged in “Propaganda Creation” activities, followed by a street demonstration along Jalan Sosio Yustisia, Tri Dharma III, and Nusantara, and concluded with an inauguration ceremony at Sansiro Park in the afternoon.
Based on the consolidation process, a set of demands was agreed upon to be voiced on this final day of PIONIR Society 2026, namely:
First Issue: Epistemicide as a Consequence of the Commercialization of Education
- Rejecting epistemicide—or the destruction of intellectual integrity—by demanding reform and transparency in the education budget.
- Rejecting the commercialization of State Universities with Legal Entity status (PTNBH) and the reduction of scholarship quotas for social science disciplines.
Issue Two: “Education Shackled by Exploitation and Low Wages”.
- Urging improvements in the welfare of educators, including the fair and transparent resolution of the status of contract (honorary) teachers.
- Demanding a review of the exploitative workloads imposed on teachers and lecturers.
Issue Three: “The Persistent Gap in Educational Access”
- Demanding equitable access to quality education that prioritizes underserved regions (3T areas) and vulnerable groups.
- Demanding the restoration of dilapidated schools, as well as the repair and provision of adequate educational facilities across Indonesia.
The execution of this activity—a long-standing tradition for new students at FISIPOL UGM—demonstrates the faculty’s commitment to supporting students as young intellectuals who possess a strong sense of social responsibility and are prepared to safeguard democracy and uphold justice in the nation.