The Social Welfare Study Program (IKS) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta officially handed over a group of student interns to Federasi Serikat Buruh Kerakyatan (F-SERBUK) on March 3, 2026, marking the start of the Social Work Practicum (PPS) for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Held at the F-SERBUK office, the event reflected more than a routine administrative process. For the Social Welfare Study Program, the practicum represents a key component of experiential learning, bridging classroom-based knowledge with the realities of social work practice in the field.

Khotibul Umam, Secretary of the Social Welfare Study Program, said the PPS practicum is designed to strengthen students’ professional competencies, particularly in social intervention, case analysis, and community engagement.

“Field education allows students to understand social issues not only theoretically, but also through direct interaction with communities and institutions,” he said during the handover session.

F-SERBUK was selected as a practicum partner because of its long-standing engagement with labor advocacy and social justice issues. The organization provides students with opportunities to observe and participate in community-based empowerment efforts while gaining insight into labor relations, workers’ rights, and structural inequality.

Alongside the handover ceremony, students also took part in an orientation session covering practicum mechanisms, professional ethics, and expected learning outcomes. They were encouraged to take an active role throughout the placement process — conducting assessments, developing intervention strategies, and critically reflecting on their experiences as aspiring social workers.

The practicum framework draws upon the Person-in-Environment (PIE) perspective, a core approach in social work that emphasizes understanding individuals within broader social, economic, and institutional systems.

For many students, the placement is expected to become more than an academic requirement. Working within the environment of a labor federation offers practical exposure to negotiation, teamwork, interpersonal communication, and advocacy surrounding issues such as labor exploitation and social protection.

The collaboration also reflects a broader effort by the Social Welfare Study Program to strengthen partnerships between higher education institutions and grassroots organizations, while preparing students for the ethical and professional demands of contemporary social work practice.