The Social Welfare Study Program (IKS) under the Faculty of Da’wah and Communication (FDK), UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, held a public lecture titled “Social Work in the Digital Era: Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Dimensions of Technology-Based Social Services” on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Theatrical Hall of FDK UIN Sunan Kalijaga. Running from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the event also marked a strategic follow-up to the cooperation agreement between the Social Welfare Study Program of UIN Sunan Kalijaga and the Social Welfare Program of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Wijaya Kusuma University Surabaya (UWKS).

The event brought together academics and practitioners to explore the growing transformation of social work in the digital age. Delivering the keynote address was Prof. Dr. Arif Maftuhin, M.A.I.S., Dean of the Faculty of Da’wah and Communication, UIN Sunan Kalijaga. The lecture featured two speakers: Dr. Sugeng Pujileksono, M.Si, social work practitioner and Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Wijaya Kusuma University Surabaya, and Andayani, S.IP., BSW., MSW, lecturer at the Social Welfare Study Program, UIN Sunan Kalijaga. The session was moderated by M. Ghufron Alfatah, S.Sos., an alumnus of the program.

Before the academic session began, institutional collaboration took center stage through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of UWKS and the Faculty of Da’wah and Communication of UIN Sunan Kalijaga. The partnership was then strengthened through the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) between the Social Welfare Program of UWKS, represented by its Head of Program, Heru Dwi Herbowo, S.Sos., M.A., and the Social Welfare Study Program of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, represented by its Head of Program, Muhammad Izzul Haq, S.Sos., M.Sc., Ph.D.

In his presentation, Dr. Sugeng Pujileksono highlighted the emergence of digital social work as an urgent response to the rapidly evolving digital society. He pointed to rising internet penetration, shifting social vulnerabilities such as cyberbullying, gadget addiction, and online gambling, and unequal access to conventional social services across Indonesia’s archipelagic geography as key drivers for transformation in social work practice.

Dr. Sugeng explained that digital social work extends beyond online counseling and social media engagement. It encompasses cloud-based case management systems, virtual support groups, macro-level data analysis, and even the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen service delivery and decision-making processes. Social workers, he argued, increasingly need digital competencies, adaptability, and ethical awareness to remain effective in contemporary practice.

Ethics formed a central theme of his presentation. Data protection, client privacy, informed consent, responsible documentation, and safeguards against technological misuse were emphasized as foundational principles in digital social work practice. Technology, he noted, should function as a tool for inclusion and expanded access rather than deepen social inequalities.

Meanwhile, Andayani, MSW, delivered a presentation titled “Generation Z Mental Health in the Digital Era: A Social Work Perspective.” Her session examined Generation Z as digital natives whose identities and social experiences are deeply intertwined with technology. The discussion explored contemporary risks facing young people online, including digital addiction, online gambling, predatory digital lending, cyberbullying, and technology-facilitated sexual violence.

At the same time, she underscored the opportunities technology presents for expanding mental health services. Tele-social work, online therapeutic ecosystems, digital advocacy, and cyber safety initiatives, she argued, represent critical areas where social workers can strengthen support systems for younger generations. She also emphasized the importance of digital etiquette, digital literacy, family involvement, and public policy interventions in fostering healthier and safer online environments.

The event concluded with an interactive discussion involving students, faculty members, and participants from across the academic community. Beyond serving as an academic forum, the public lecture reflected a broader commitment by both institutions to advancing social work education that is responsive to technological change while strengthening inter-university collaboration in teaching, research, and professional development.

The program closed with a group photograph, symbolizing a shared commitment to building future collaborations and strengthening the development of social work education in Indonesia amid an increasingly digital world.