Yogyakarta, 9 September 2025 – The Center for Digital Society (CfDS) at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) Universitas Gadjah Mada celebrated its tenth anniversary under the theme “A New Era to Rethink Digital.” The celebration also marked the launch of the 2025 Digital Intelligence Course (MKKD), which carries the topic “Building a Human-Centered and Inclusive Digital Ecosystem.”
Since its establishment ten years ago, CfDS has consistently empowered communities through research and advocacy in digital transformation. One of its flagship initiatives is MKKD, a free digital literacy class initiated in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) in 2020. To date, MKKD has reached more than 40,000 participants and features instructors from across sectors, including academia, government, and industry.
In his opening remarks, FISIPOL UGM Dean Dr. Wawan Mas’udi emphasized that CfDS was founded as a response to the dynamics of the digital revolution. “We do not want digital transformation to create new forms of imperialism or dependency,” he stated, adding that MKKD plays a vital role in reinforcing human values amid rapid technological development.
As part of the MKKD opening, CfDS also hosted a public discussion titled “Building a Human-Centered and Inclusive Digital Ecosystem,” featuring two key speakers: Janitra Haryanto from Salesforce and Dr. Suci Lestari Yuana from FISIPOL UGM. The discussion highlighted the importance of a human-centric approach in technology development—particularly artificial intelligence (AI)—and explored various issues of implementation and regulation.
Through this tenth-anniversary celebration, CfDS reaffirmed its role as a driver of social and technological progress in Indonesia. Beyond being a moment of celebration, the event served as a strategic platform to foster cross-sector dialogue so that digital innovation—especially AI—can contribute to a more prosperous society. With the commencement of MKKD 2025, CfDS remains committed to expanding public digital literacy to build a healthy, sustainable, and human-centered digital ecosystem.
This initiative aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). First, SDG 4 (Quality Education), as MKKD provides free digital literacy access that enhances public skills in the technology era. Second, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), by promoting technological understanding that creates new job opportunities and strengthens workforce competitiveness. Third, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), through its focus on digital innovation and the application of AI for inclusive development. In addition, the human-centered and inclusive theme supports SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by expanding digital access to vulnerable groups. Finally, the cross-sector collaboration showcased in the public discussion contributes to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), recognizing that cooperation among academia, industry, and government is key to strengthening a fair and sustainable digital ecosystem.
The tenth-anniversary celebration of the Center for Digital Society (CfDS) FISIPOL UGM not only highlighted its achievements in research and digital literacy but also served as a pivotal moment to reinforce Indonesia’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a people-oriented digital transformation.