UNS — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta successfully hosted the 8th International Conference on Social and Political Sciences (ICOSAPS) on Wednesday (6/11/2024). The conference, themed “Ushering Post-Pandemic Social Progress Through Accelerating the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals,” was conducted in a hybrid format at the Ki Hadjar Dewantara UNS Tower and via Zoom, featuring five keynote speakers.
The distinguished speakers included Dr. Colin Kuehl from Northern Illinois University (USA), Prof. Dr. Novel A. Lyndon from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Malaysia), Prof. Y.M. Dorien Kartikawangi from Atma Jaya Catholic University (Indonesia), Dr. Phan Thị Hồng Xuân, represented by Mr. Vo Lap Phuc from Vietnam National University (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), and Rino Ardhian Nugroho, S.Sos., M.T.I., Ph.D. from Universitas Sebelas Maret (Indonesia).
The event started with an opening speech by Septyanto Galan Prakoso, S.I.P., M.Sc., Chairman of ICOSAPS 2024, followed by Prof. Dr. Fitria Rahmawati, S.Si., M.Si., Vice-Rector for Academic and Research Affairs at UNS. Both highlighted the critical importance of collaboration in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a more sustainable future. The conference featured two plenary sessions addressing key topics related to the SDGs.
In the first session, Dr. Colin Kuehl emphasized the significance of “Sustainability Literacy” as a driving force for promoting sustainable actions in developing countries. He stressed the need to evaluate educational systems to enhance environmentally friendly practices. Following this, Prof. Dr. Novel A. Lyndon explored the issue of illegal immigration and its relation to SDG 10, focusing on the role of migrants in the economy and the challenges of border control, with Malaysia as a case study.
The second session featured Prof. Y.M. Dorien Kartikawangi, who discussed the impact of digitalization on rural resilience and sustainable development through effective communication strategies that spur concrete action. Mr. Vo Lap Phuc presented on the role of ASEAN youth in advancing SDGs through digital platforms, emphasizing the strengthening of ASEAN identity and active political participation. The session concluded with Rino Ardhian Nugroho, S.Sos., M.T.I., Ph.D. from UNS, who shared insights on the smart city concept as a support mechanism for achieving SDGs in Indonesia, focusing on health, clean energy, and sustainable urban development. “This concept aims to foster SDG achievement through technology integration,” Rino explained.
ICOSAPS 2024 concluded with reflections on the essential contributions of academic institutions, government policies, and youth engagement in driving sustainable change. The conference underscored the importance of international collaboration for a fairer and more sustainable future.
HUMAS UNS
