UNS — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Universitas Sebelas March (UNS) Surakarta held the DIG-Asia Summer Course 2021. This activity is scheduled from October 6 to October 13, 2021, and will be available through a virtual meeting platform. The topic of the Summer Course is Asia’s Digital Transformation in Times of Covid-19 Pandemic. This agenda was officially opened by the Vice-Rector for Planning, Partnership, Business, and Information Affairs UNS, Prof. Sajidan, the Dean of FISIP UNS, Prof. Ismi Dwi Astuti Nurhaeni, the Director of the Center for Southeast Asia Social Studies (CESASS) UGM, Prof. Dr. Phil. Hermin Indah Wahyuni, and Dr. Yuyun Sunesti as Chairman of the Organizing Committee
This summer course aims to improve the quality of the learning process at FISIP UNS. The Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Yuyun Sunesti, said that the Summer Course was conducted in collaboration with world-ranked universities by bringing practitioners to discuss and exchange ideas.
“This collaboration is necessary to give students a world-class lecture atmosphere, thus opening students’ insight and motivation in contributing to a better learning process. Aside from exchanging ideas, this Summer Course is expected to be the starting point for UNS to establish further collaboration with global practitioners or academics and to increase UNS’ academic reputation,” said Dr. Yuyun.
The DIG-Asia Summer Course 2021 is organized in collaboration with the CESASS, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta, discussing various sub-themes such as politics and government, media and culture, economics, ecology, as well as youth issues and religious affairs. “In this summer course, we collaborate with numerous lecturers from various scientific disciplines, which allows various issues to be discussed on each agenda,” added Dr. Yuyun.
On the first day, as a warm-up session for the Summer Course participants, Arif Aris Mundayat, Ph.D., delivers material on the Introduction to Digital Society in Asia. The material was delivered for an hour and followed by a question and answer discussion.
On the second day, Thursday (7/10/2021), there were two sessions with Dr. Rino Ardhian Nugroho (UNS) discussing the topic of E-Government and Government Responses to Pandemic Crisis, and Dr. Priyambudi Sulistyanto, an academician from Flinders University, South Australia, on the topic of Myanmar and ASEAN: Where to Go from Now. At the end of the second day, students were invited to discuss the Governments’ efforts in each participants’ country in dealing with the Covid-19 Crisis through digital media. The students were divided into 7 (seven) groups to encourage an extensive discussion among the students.
On the third day, Friday (8/10/2021), students must follow a tighter schedule with 4 (four) lecturers through 3 class sessions. The first session is started with Prof. Dr. Phil. Hermin Indah Wahyuni from UGM, with material on the Changing Landscape of Media Industry, followed by a lecturer from the same university, Sidiq Hari Madya., M.Sc., discussing the Social Media and Infodemic during the Crisis. The last session was taught by two UNS lecturers, Dr. Yuyun Sunesti and Dr. Leni Winarni, on the Family and Digital Life during the Pandemic Crisis.
The following fourth day, Monday (11/10/2021), there were two class sessions, concluded with a student group discussion. In the first session of the fourth day, Dr. Putra Pamungkas from FEB UNS delivers material on the issue of Digital Economy Transformation in Asia. The second session for the day was delivered by Dr. M. Falikul Isbah with the topic of Employment and the Fate of Justice.
For the fifth day, Tuesday (12/10/2021), students joined a discussion about the Ecological Crisis in Asia with Dr. Keo Piseth, an academician from the Asian Vision Institute, Cambodia. Meanwhile, the second session with the Anthropology of Waste in the Risk Society was delivered by Dr. Vissia Ita Yulianto from UGM.
An official closing ceremony by the Vice-Dean for Academic, Research, and Student Affairs FISIP UNS, Dr. Prahastiwi Utari, and the Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Yuyun Sunesti, is scheduled on the last day of the Summer Course, October 13, 2021. Before the closing ceremony, however, there are two materials delivered by Dr. Hew Wai Weng from the National University of Malaysia with material on Digitalized Religion and Covid-19 Pandemic, and Irfan Amali, MA., from Peace Generation Indonesia, on the issue of Peace Generation and Digital Life.
“This short course program is available for undergraduate and master students from all countries. Participants who meet the conditions will get 2 (two) transferable credits and also a certificate of participation,” explained Dr. Yuyun.
According to Dr. Yuyun Sunesti as Chairman of the Organizing Committee, the 6 (six) days event succeeded in attracting 69 students from 25 Indonesian and international universities. International students participating in this Summer Course are from numerous global universities such as National Chung Hsing University Taiwan, De La Salle University Philippines, Payap University Thailand, Australian National University, and Xiamen University China. Meanwhile, national students also come from various universities, including Padjadjaran University, Gadjah Mada University, Lampung University, Diponegoro University, Airlangga University, Udayana University, Surabaya State University, Sebelas Maret University, Jakarta State University, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, and other universities. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti