The Institute for Policy and Development (PolDev), under the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, has released the second episode of its podcast series, Unitalks. This episode addresses the timely and critical topic of Data Transparency and Proxy Data, highlighting ongoing challenges in ensuring public access to information in Indonesia.

Hosted by Rizki Dwi Lestari, a researcher at the Department of Management and Public Policy (DMKP), the episode features guest speaker Rizki Ardinanta, a researcher at PolDev and Project Advisor at Unitrend. Together, they delve into the complexities surrounding public access to government data—especially in the realm of public policy—where transparency and accessibility remain limited. read more

Yogyakarta, July 11, 2025—The Department of Social Development and Welfare (PSdK), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Gadjah Mada University (FISIPOL UGM), celebrated its 68th anniversary on Thursday (July 10). Since its founding on July 10, 1957, the department has traveled a long path of service, instilling the values of social development and welfare. Historically, the Department of Social Development and Welfare underwent a name change from the Department of Social Affairs through Government Regulation Number 15 of 1957, more precisely, referring to UGM Rector’s Decree Number 100/P/SK/HT/2010. read more

MEGASHIFT, a publication initiative by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) Universitas Gadjah Mada, has released its latest feature article highlighting urgent socio-political issues in Indonesia. Titled “Indigenous Women and the Politics of Periphery in Forest Conservation in Papua”, the article by Halimatu Sa’diah sheds light on the structural injustices faced by Indigenous Papuan women in their struggle to protect ancestral forests.

The article critically explores how Indigenous women—often positioned at the margins of state power—play a crucial role in forest conservation through their deep-rooted local knowledge. Through the lens of periphery politics, Sa’diah analyzes how centralized governance in Java, industrial expansion, and the inadequate legal protection for Indigenous communities have systematically marginalized women, both economically and socially. read more

Yogyakarta, July 10, 2025─In a significant step toward experiential learning, Master of Public Policy (MKP) students at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) conducted a field visit to the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bapperida) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY). This visit was conducted as part of a field study on Regional Autonomy.

The event began with a presentation by Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti, Head of Bapperida DIY, who outlined strategic issues related to budget management and asset governance in regional development planning. Students listened attentively to the presentation, noting key points relevant to the implementation of regional autonomy and the complexities involved in local governance. read more

A lecturer from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL), Universitas Gadjah Mada, has contributed to the academic discourse on human rights with the launch of a new publication titled the Routledge Handbook of Human Rights in Southeast Asia. The book was officially launched at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and is co-edited by Prof. Amalinda Savirani, a lecturer from the Department of Politics and Government at FISIPOL UGM, alongside Dr. Ken M.P. Setiawan, Senior Lecturer in Indonesian Studies at the Asia Institute, University of Melbourne. read more

The Department of Public Policy and Management (DMKP) at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), welcomed a study visit from the Faculty of Administration and Social Sciences, Universitas Bina Taruna (UNBITA) Gorontalo. The event was part of a collaborative academic initiative aimed at expanding inter-university engagement, particularly in the field of inclusive digital transformation policy and governance in Indonesia.

As part of the visit, students from UNBITA participated in a guest lecture delivered by Alvi Syahrina, S.T., M.Sc., a lecturer at DMKP UGM. The session, titled “Inclusive Digital Transformation Policy and Governance in Indonesia,” emphasized the need to view digital transformation not only as a technological advancement, but also through the lens of social justice, digital literacy, and the risks of digital exclusion. read more

Melbourne, 9 July 2025 — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in partnership with the University of Melbourne, successfully held the 5th Australia-Indonesia in Conversation (AIC) 2025. This year’s forum took place at the University of Melbourne, Australia, following its previous iteration hosted at FISIPOL UGM.

Carrying the theme “Bridging Development, Representation, and Indigenous Knowledge: Learning from Australia and Indonesia”, the forum brought together scholars and representatives of Indigenous communities to discuss critical issues at the intersection of social justice, sustainable development, and recognition of local knowledge. read more

Yogyakarta, July 8, 2025—The Master’s Program in Social Development and Welfare (PSDK) of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) UGM successfully held the 5th Graduate Symposium on Social Development and Welfare 2025 from July 7 to 8, 2025. With the theme “Quo Vadis Contemporary Development,” the event provided a platform for cross-perspective academic discussions to address the challenges and direction of sustainable development in Indonesia.

The first day of the symposium opened with a keynote speaker session titled “Frugal Innovation: A New Strategy for CSR Program Planning,” featuring Adi Rahmadi (Officer II CSR at PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk.) and moderated by Galih Prabaningrum, S.Sos., M.A. (PSdK Lecturer). The discussion highlighted the concept of Frugal Innovation as an efficient approach to designing CSR programs based on optimizing company resources. Participants were invited to understand the definition of Frugal Innovation, its implementation, the benefits it offers companies and communities, and its practical applications at Pertamina Geothermal. The session also highlighted criticisms of CSR practices in Indonesia and the relevance of this new approach. read more

Yogyakarta, July 5, 2025 — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) at Universitas Gadjah Mada continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening an academic culture that is reflective, productive, and impact-oriented. Through the Research, Publication, and Community Engagement Unit (UP3M), FISIPOL organized the Research Grant Progress Report Presentation Week from June 30 to July 4, 2025. The event was attended by nearly 80 grant recipients from various internal faculty funding schemes. read more

As part of its continuous efforts to improve the quality of childcare services and family support, the Family Wellness (FW) educator team carried out an educational visit to KB/TK Al Biruni Aria Graha, Bandung, on Saturday (5/7). The activity involved nine Family Wellness educators and aimed to conduct benchmarking, identify best practices, and build professional networks with early childhood education providers.

Through this initiative, Family Wellness sought to compare services, facilities, and operational management applied by other daycares in order to gather valuable references for developing a more adaptive internal system that meets user needs. The benchmarking process also created opportunities to review innovations in curriculum design, caregiving approaches, and the use of technology to holistically support children’s growth and development. read more