KUPANG - In an effort to enhance attention and care for marginalized groups, the Psychology Program of the Faculty of Public Health at Nusa Cendana University (Undana) collaborated with the Social Psychology Association - Indonesian Psychology Association (IPS-HIMPSI) to organize the 12th National Seminar (Semnas) and National Scientific Meeting (Temilnas) of IPS-HIMPSI.
The theme of the event is "The Role of Social Psychology in the Development of Marginal Communities in Indonesia." The National Seminar was opened by the Acting Mayor, Fahrensy P. Funay, SE., M.Si, at the Hotel Kristal in Kupang on Thursday, September 28, 2023.
Three speakers were invited to present their materials, including Prof. Asnawi Abdullah, BSC.PH., MHSM.,M.SC.HPPF.,DLSHTM.,Ph.D, who is a lecturer at the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Muhammadiyah; Dr. Andrian Liem, Ph.D, a Researcher at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, and a lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Sebelas Maret; and Prof. Toshi Sasao, Ph.D, a lecturer at International Christian University, Japan.
Also in attendance were the Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Psychology Association (HIMPSI), Dr. Andik Matulessy, Psychology; the Chairman of the Social Psychology Association, Prof. Dr. Mira Nurmila, Psychology; Undana Rector, Prof. Dr. drh. Maxs U. E. Sanam, M.Sc; the Dean of the Faculty of Public Health at Undana, Prof. Dr. Apris A. Adu., S.Pt., M.Kes; as well as participants from Semnas and Temilnas from all state universities (PTN) in Indonesia that have Psychology Programs.
The Acting Mayor of Kupang, Fahrensy P. Funay, SE., M.Si, when opening the National Seminar and National Scientific Meeting, stated that the event aligns with the city government's program to address the issues of marginalized groups. "I hope that we don't just stop at the political studies stage, but we can take concrete actions that directly impact the marginalized population in the city of Kupang," he said.
Undana Rector, Prof. Dr. drh. Maxs U.E. Sanam, M.Sc, in his speech, mentioned that Indonesia is a country with diversity and faces issues of poverty, inequality, discrimination, and social justice.
"People in rural and urban areas are still struggling to achieve equal access to education, healthcare, decent employment, and housing," he said.
Therefore, in order to empower the role of Social Psychology for marginalized communities, the Undana Rector hopes that in the future, a Professional Psychology Program can be opened at Undana.
"It is hoped that Undana can play a role in empowering the field of social psychology by adding a Professional Psychology Study Program," he said.
The Dean of the Faculty of Public Health at Undana, Prof. Dr. Apris A. Adu, S.Pt., M.Kes, stated that the role of Psychology is very important in reducing discrimination, issues related to children, marginalized groups with special needs, and the elderly. According to him, the field of psychology will further develop through collaboration with state universities (PTN) across Indonesia that have Psychology Programs and Faculties of Public Health.
He also welcomed Undana's efforts in improving infrastructure and preparing academic papers for the establishment of a Psychology Professional Study Program so that Psychology would play a greater role in overcoming a number of problems experienced by marginalized groups.
Meanwhile, Rizky Pradita Manafe, S.Psi., M.Psi., Psychologist as the chairman of the committee and lecturer at the Psychology Study Program from FKM Undana said, the implementation of Semnas and Temilnas was a joint decision at the 2022 HIMPSI National Deliberation, that Undana would be the organizer by presenting 196 participants consisting of 142 online participants and 54 offline participants in NTT.
"The implementation of activities carried out in the East Nusa Tenggara region is expected to be a place to raise issues and contextual solutions faced by marginalized groups in Eastern Indonesia," he said.
Semnas and Temilnas will be filled with various activities such as National Seminars, Workshops, Call for Paper Presentations, Gala Dinner, IPS National Conference, and Photovoice Exhibition of Marginalized Groups. For information, the moderator who guided the presentation of the material, namely Lecturer in the Psychology Study Program from the UNDANA Faculty of Public Health, Dr. M. Dinah Charlota Lerik, S.Psi., M.si.(Eliz)
