Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Fisipol UGM), Dr. Wawan Mas’udi, was officially inaugurated as Chair of the Forum of Deans of Social Sciences (Fordekiis) for the 2025–2027 term.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the Fisipol UGM Auditorium on Monday (Oct. 6) and was attended by 41 deans from various universities across Indonesia. This leadership transition marks a strategic moment to strengthen synergy among social science faculties nationwide while reaffirming the essential role of social sciences in understanding the dynamics of the modern era.
Dr. Mas’udi expressed his gratitude for the trust given to him and affirmed Fordekiis’s commitment to enhancing the relevance of social sciences amid rapid developments in science and technology.
“We will continue to seek inspiration, offer support, and collaborate for the advancement of social science faculties throughout Indonesia,” said Dr. Mas’udi on Tuesday (Oct. 7).
He added that social sciences must reaffirm their position within the national scientific landscape. According to him, the social dimension is often not placed at the center of scientific discourse, even though technology and innovation fundamentally rely on strong social foundations.
“Moving forward, this forum will serve as a platform for sharing experiences in curriculum development and strengthening interfaculty collaboration to advance more adaptive and relevant social sciences,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Professor Armin Arsyad from Hasanuddin University, who serves on the Honorary Council of Fordekiis, highlighted the forum’s potential as an important platform to promote the tangible contributions of the social sciences to national development.
“This organization is unique and powerful. With strong synergy, it can have an extraordinary impact on the development of social sciences and public policy in Indonesia,” said Professor Arsyad.
Following the inauguration, the event continued with a workshop and discussion session featuring Professor Vedi Hadiz, a leading scholar in social and political sciences, who delivered a presentation titled “Challenges and Opportunities for Critical Social Sciences in Indonesia”.
In his presentation, Professor Hadiz invited participants to reflect on five fundamental questions regarding the existence and direction of critical social sciences in Indonesia, including their urgency, readiness for resources, challenges, and potential for development.
“Critical social science is a tradition that questions reality. It does not accept the present condition as given, nor does it treat it as inevitable. This is where the intellectual courage of the social sciences is tested,” Professor Hadiz emphasized.
Concluding the event, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Menko PMK) Professor Pratikno joined virtually to congratulate the newly appointed chair of Fordekiis.
Professor Pratikno emphasized the importance of the concept of ‘Social Science with Adjective’, which asserts that social sciences must continually adapt to emerging societal contexts, including environmental issues and digitalization, as well as artificial intelligence (AI).
“Political and social studies cannot stop at conventional topics such as regional autonomy or legislative institutions. Social sciences must evolve alongside new phenomena to remain relevant,” Professor Pratikno explained.
He also emphasized the importance of the social sciences in navigating the disruptions brought about by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). According to Professor Pratikno, technological progress must always be grounded in social and human dimensions to ensure that it benefits society as a whole.
“Fordekiis must be at the forefront to ensure that social sciences do not lag in the fast-paced development of STEM. The forum must safeguard that technological progress continues to serve Indonesia’s independence, sovereignty, and prosperity,” he concluded.
Author: Salwa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: Fisipol UGM