At the Second Commission of the House of Representatives, the students were given an overview of the legislative processes and the role of the commission in creating national policies. The discussion was focused towards the importance of accountable institutions in ensuring good governance. The students were given a chance to ask questions and get insights on the challenges and opportunities that are faced by state legislators. Meanwhile, the visit to the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency gave a much comprehensive understanding of national development and its planning. This session also highlighted the importance of Sustainable Development Goals in creating long term development strategies for Indonesia. The students learnt about the various programmes and its initiatives that are aimed at accomplishing those objectives, which includes capacity building and education.
The public visit then continued to the Ministry of Finance, which was more focused on the impact of fiscal policies towards national development. There was also the visit to the Ministry of Home Affairs, which gave students insights on the administrative aspects of governance. The students learned about the roles of ministries in coordinating with the local and central government, as well as the importance of an effective public administration in achieving the objectives of development. Discussions also ensued about the challenges of decentralization and the need for developing community capacity at the local level.
Lastly, at the international level, the students also made a public visit to the United Nations Information Centre. In this visit, the students were given an international perspective on public policy, as well as the roles of the United Nations in promoting global development and the importance of international cooperation in handling international challenges.
Overall, the public visit was an important learning experience for the students. The Student Family of Public Policy and Management (Gamapi) of Fisipol UGM wishes that this initiative inspires students to pursue careers in the public service sector and contribute to the development of effective and accountable institutions. The department plans to do similar events in the near future, in order to give students much more opportunities to interact directly with policymakers and gain practical insights in public administration.