Yogyakarta, May 26th 2025─Muchtar Habibi, a lecturer from the Department of the Department of Public Policy Management (MKP), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of UGM, once again shares his thoughts through his latest scientific publication entitled “Challenging the orthodox policy analysis in Indonesia: a historical materialist policy analysis of Joko Widodo’s agrarian reform and food sovereignty”. This article was published in the reputable journal Critical Policy Studies published by Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
SDGs 10: Reduced Inequalities
Dr. Mehmet Cevat Yildirim, as Associate Professor of Public Administration, explained that the global crisis has experienced its own set of dynamics from time to time along with technological advancements and climate change. For example, in 1970, there was a transition from the import sector to global manufacturing. It then developed further to global factory networks due to globalization. Now, the world has entered an era of robotic technology and the neoliberal economic structure. These changes have caused a number of disruptions in various fields, including employment. “This creates new problems for countries that depend on the development of urban areas. This is the case in Turkey, where the growth of industry outpaced the infrastructure planning process,” Mehmet stated. Gebze, one of the centers of the automotive and chemical industries that drive Turkey’s economy, is now faced with the lack of adequate infrastructure. Unprepared, the city infrastructure is increasingly under pressure, causing several social problems such as congestion, minimal public service, and high population density.
Similar things are happening in Indonesia, specifically in the city of Bekasi, West Java. Mehmet’s research has shown Bekasi as the centre of the world’s automotive industry that has grown at a rapid pace due to investments. However, the area of Bekasi itself is separated into two very unequal areas, namely the modern industrial district and the residential district. “The city infrastructure that we see in Bekasi is under pressure due to high amounts of migration, land purchase for investment and infrastructure gaps,” Mehmet explained. According to him, the economic growth experienced is not accompanied by proper access to public services and infrastructures.
Yogyakarta, 21 May 2025–The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM continues to strengthen international cooperation through a strategic meeting with a delegation from Gaziantep University, Turkey. In a warm atmosphere and with a collaborative spirit, the deans of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UGM, and the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, hosted a dinner with delegates from Gaziantep University at Sasanti Restaurant in Yogyakarta.
This meeting served as a forum to discuss the continuation of academic cooperation between the two institutions, which had previously been established through the Erasmus+ program. One of the potential topics discussed in depth was the plan for collaborative research and project development related to co-operatives in a comparative perspective between Indonesia and Turkey. The Dean of FISIPOL, Dr. Wawan Mas’udi, and the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Jaka Widada, highlighted the importance of strengthening the people’s economy through the cooperative model as an inclusive and sustainable development strategy in both countries.
Yogyakarta, May 14th 2025 ─The Department of Public Policy Management (MKP) of FISIPOL UGM together with its alumni held an alumni gathering entitled MKPketemuAN 2025: Stepping Forward Shining Together at the RRI Auditorium Jakarta, Saturday (10/5) yesterday.
This event became a forum for friendship and consolidation across generations of MKP of FISIPOL UGM alumni. This is evident from the philosophy of choosing the name of the event with the affix “AN” as a form of respect for the history of the department which was previously named State Administration before now transforming into Public Policy Management or MKP.
Yogyakarta, 21 March 2025–The FISIPIT Charity Fun Ride is a sharing program by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol) cycling community, Universitas Gadjah Mada. This time, FISIPIT held various actions with the disability group “Paguyuban Bangkit Bersama” on Friday (21/3). The event was held through a gathering and breakfasting with several education staff and lecturers at Resto Numani, Parangtritis, Yogyakarta.
Paguyuban Bangkit Bersama is a Yogyakarta disability group whose members are mostly earthquake victims. When it was initiated in 2012, the first 30 members joined to raise the spirit and empowerment as a disability. Paguyuban representatives expressed gratitude to the FISIPIT Charity Run for providing meaningful support for the association’s sustainability.
Yogyakarta, 22nd of March 2025 — Once again, Fisipol UGM’s Career Development Center (CDC) opens the Essential Skills : Intensive Writing and Speaking Classes Batch V Program. This program is opened in collaboration with the University of Melbourne in attempting to accommodate the student needs for English language learning, which is identified as an essential skill by the faculty for study and career preparation. At the same time, this program is also aimed to train self-confidence through verbal and written communication in English.
Dr. Atalia Oniliu, a lecturer from the West University of Timisoara explained that the efforts in recognizing non-formal education in Europe began in 2001. The people realized that the presence of non-formal education does not only function as a complement to formal education, but it can also help hone self competencies and character. “We see non-formal education as something that is important. It can help hone character, culture, and soft skills that you would not typically experience in formal education,” Atalia mentioned.
Through cooperation and teamwork between the European Commision and the European Education Council for Non-Formal Education, the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCE) was created. This regulation gives several classifications and requirements so that non-formal education could be recognized according to its categories. These steps can help improve awareness of the importance of non-formal education to Romanian citizens, as well as achieve recognition in career paths.
“We emphasize that non-formal education is a part of long-life learning and honing soft skills. With that, it should be ensured that while non-formal education does not hand out diplomas like formal education does, there are still levels and special recognition,” Atalia added. The Romanian government currently has two main objectives in ISCE. First is to provide materials that formal education does not provide. The second is to reach all levels of society and achieve social inclusivity.
Yogyakarta, 11 March 2025–In commemorating International Women Day 2025, Fisipol Crisis Center (FCC) held a live Instagram event titled “Setara Bukan Sekadar Kata” (Equal is not just a word). The event, which was hosted by Nurul Amaliah (Master Student of DPP UGM), also presented speakers who enriched each other’s perspectives, namely Maygsi Aldian Suwandi, S.Sos., M.A (Lecturer of PSDK UGM) and Valenidha Sulafi (Peer Counselor CDC Fisipol UGM). This multi-perspective discussion aims to raise the issue of gender equality, challenges that are still faced, and concrete efforts that can be made to realize inclusive and sustainable equality.
The Indonesian government initiated the implementation of AI in the public sector by issuing the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Menkominfo) No. 9 of 2023 on the ethics of artificial intelligence. However, according to Hossea Immanuel, research assistant at CfDS UGM, the initiative still faces some challenges due to inadequate digital infrastructure.
“There are still problems regarding AI implementation in Indonesia, such as the ransomware attack on the national data center last year. Of course, this contradicts the purpose of implementing AI,” said Hossea in his presentation.
Celebrating International Women’s Day, Dema Fisipol UGM Raises the Issue of Safe and Inclusive Space
Yogyakarta, March 5th 2025─To commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD), the Student Council (Dewan Mahasiswa/Dema) of Fisipol UGM opened the Forum Selasar Fisipol. This time the forum took the title “Towards Safe and Inclusive Spaces for All Women”. This theme was chosen to dissect together the urgency of eliminating violence and discrimination in public spaces. This event presented various speakers ranging from the academic community of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, IWD activists, to NGOs.