Semarang, May 20, 2026 – The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Diponegoro, once again organized a national-scale academic event through General Lecture 2026 entitled “Public Policy for Social Welfare” on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, at the Theater Room of FISIP Universitas Diponegoro. The event featured a prominent national public policy expert, Dr. Riant Nugroho, M.Si., Chairman of the Indonesian Public Policy Society (MAKPI), as the keynote speaker.
The event was officially opened by the Dean of FISIP Universitas Diponegoro, Dr. Drs. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin., who emphasized the importance of strengthening public policy perspectives in addressing increasingly complex social welfare challenges amid global transformation. In his opening remarks, he also highlighted the strategic role of universities in generating ideas and policy innovations that create meaningful impacts for society.
The session was moderated by Retna Hanani, S.Sos., MPP., Head of the Undergraduate Public Administration Program at FISIP Universitas Diponegoro. The event was also attended by distinguished Professors from the Department of Public Administration, namely Prof. Dr. Drs. Hardi Warsono, M.T. and Prof. Dr. Dra. Kismartini, M.Si. Also present was the Head of the Department of Public Administration, Dr. A.P. Tri Yuniningsih, M.Si., along with lecturers from the Department of Public Administration, FISIP Universitas Diponegoro, who actively supported and participated in the academic discussion together with students and other participants.
During the lecture, Dr. Riant Nugroho discussed the evolution of social welfare policy paradigms, ranging from the concepts of social welfare and the welfare state to the challenges of next-generation social welfare in the era of digitalization and artificial intelligence. He explained that social welfare should no longer be understood merely as social assistance, but rather as the outcome of comprehensive public policies capable of creating an independent, empowered, and prosperous society.
In addition, the lecture highlighted global development frameworks such as the MDGs and SDGs, which focus on poverty reduction, educational improvement, healthcare, and environmental sustainability. Dr. Riant Nugroho also addressed how digital technology and artificial intelligence have introduced new challenges to employment systems and social welfare governance, requiring adaptive, responsive, and effective public policies to navigate future transformations.
The discussion session was conducted interactively, with participants raising various questions and perspectives regarding the role of the state, the effectiveness of social policies, and Indonesia’s readiness to face digital transformation and AI-driven disruption. The participants’ enthusiasm reflected the growing concern over the importance of inclusive and sustainable public policies in ensuring social welfare.
Through the organization of General Lecture 2026, FISIP Universitas Diponegoro hopes to strengthen academic insight among students and the academic community regarding the importance of inclusive, adaptive, and welfare-oriented public policies. The event also served as a collaborative academic platform to encourage the development of innovative policy ideas and practical solutions for addressing future social challenges in the global and digital era.
