Yogyakarta, June 4th 2025—Challenges faced in the workplace not only encompass the issue of the job market, but also the issue of the shifting transition regarding job prosperity and social issues that are directly affected by the development of modern technology. With that in mind, UGM’s Department of Social Development and Welfare (PSdK), as part of the Faculty of Social and Political Science of Universitas Gadjah Mada, decided to organize a discussion at the Self Development Series titled “Social Work Without Borders” on Wednesday (4/6).
Ranggi Lukfi Aprilianzah, a graduate of Universitas Indonesia’s Faculty of Social and Political Science who has just finished his study in the Master of Social Work at Columbia University, shared several work-related challenges concerning labour issues in Indonesia. According to him, issues regarding labor protection, inequality, as well as government policies cannot be separated when talking about workers. All of these issues are both intercorrelated and interdisciplinary in nature.
One of the rarely discussed groups are the social workers. These groups of workers play a role in preventing social dysfunction and encouraging resolutions in the context of societal problems. “Principally speaking, social workers have to uphold the value and dignity of every individual, champion human rights, social justice, and fight against discrimination,” Ranggi explained. Social workers play an important role in ‘saving’ the individual from the conditions of socio-political and economic instability.
Social workers are often assumed to be nothing more than social volunteers. However, according to Afkar, social workers actually have more urgency than just helping people in general. Few cases show that there is an important role played by social workers in initiating the fight against issues such as oppression and injustice experienced by society. Other than giving help to individuals, social workers can also be an agent of change in advocating for government policies that are deemed inappropriate.
In their experiences, Afkar recognized a trend as a clinical social worker in the United States. Columbia University provided a special study program aimed at deepening student’s clinical knowledge as social workers, as well as providing certificates. This program can of course become one of the options for students majoring in Social Development and Welfare. Nevertheless, Afkar did also recognize several things that should be considered regarding the university itself.
“There are some considerations, with one of them being the background of this institution that is involved with the military, issues regarding campus expansion and the eventual evictions done towards local communities, as well as its unwise decision towards the issue of Palestine,” Afkar mentioned. They suggested that students should consider both backgrounds and partiality of college institutions before pursuing education there.
Furthermore, Afkar also gave some tips and tricks in receiving international scholarships. There are several scholarship schemes available, ranging from fully funded, joint-programs, to just tuition fees only. The Government of Indonesia has provided many opportunities through the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education Agency, or more known as LPDP.
It is equally important to also talk about the adaptation process in a foreign country. “There are many international programs which focus on the values of multiculturalism. With that in mind, there needs to be understanding from both sides regarding cultural diversity,” they concluded.