The UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences organized a week-long presentation of research results called Research Days involving faculty members, researchers, and students.
Held for five days from November 13 to 17, 2023, the event included discussions and idea exchanges among the academic community addressing current issues on digital transformation, social inclusion, and climate change.
According to the Dean of the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Dr. Wawan Mas’udi, Research Days is an academic tradition to disseminate results to the public, the universities’ main and most important task besides teaching.
This activity is not only to show that the faculty is actively conducting research but also to ensure academic contributions and, more importantly, contributions to social transformation, power transformation, economic transformation, and continuous societal transformation.
“The research presented shows the collaboration of the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences lecturers and researchers with partners, domestic and international, government agencies, businesses, civil society, and research institutions,” said the dean on Monday (November 13) when opening the event.
Dr. Mas’udi explained that digital transformation, social inclusion, and climate change are the three main issues that are the mainstays in the development of teaching and research at the faculty.
The reason is that these three issues have driven a massive shift, or mega-shift, in various aspects of community life.
First, digital transformation offers economic advancement, new educational opportunities, and jobs. However, at the same time, technological progress also presents challenges such as digital colonialism and access disparities.
Second, social inclusion issues have become more prominent at the national and global levels as triggered by COVID-19, causing a health crisis.
“Amid technological and economic developments that have not fully recovered, social inclusion needs to move beyond just discussing the full participation of marginalized groups but also how to prevent discrimination against vulnerable groups due to changes in the quality of life,” he said.
The third shift is climate change, which has become the most serious risk and threat to the planet and the entire living system.
The urgency of global warming requires adaptation and a transition to sustainable basic needs, especially energy and food, as well as governance systems and policies that balance economic growth and the environment.
“As part of the academic community, our faculty is committed to being a center of reference in understanding and offering alternative ways of thinking related to these mega-shifts,” he explained.
The Research Days opened with a discussion of the latest book from the faculty titled “Social and Political Sciences of the Future: Answering Mega-shift?” Not less than 70 other research titles were presented in this event involving more than 100 researchers.
Most presentations were conducted live and open to the public on the campus. However, there were several presentations and discussions conducted online.
Various research titles presented during Research Days will be managed to become publications that can reach a wider audience, such as journal articles, books, and policy summaries.
Author: Agung Nugroho