The program, titled “Alumni Mengajar” (Alumni Teaching), brought together two practicing social workers for a guest lecture on “Social Work as a Profession.” Held in Room 410 of the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication, the event was part of the Introduction to Social Welfare course taught by Muhammad Izzul Haq, Ph.D.

The speakers were Ahmad Indra Falatihan, a 2020 graduate and medical social worker at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta, and Zena Fajrin Naufal, a 2010 graduate specializing in addiction rehabilitation and juvenile behavioral issues.

The lectures took place in two sessions, with Falatihan addressing Class A from 9:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. and Naufal speaking to Class B from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For both alumni, the occasion was an opportunity to revisit their academic roots while offering students a candid account of the professional challenges, personal experiences and lessons that have shaped their careers.

Social Work Beyond Medical Treatment

Drawing on his experience at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Falatihan described the often-overlooked social dimensions of health care.

For patients and their families, illness can bring challenges that extend far beyond medical treatment — from emotional distress and family difficulties to limited financial resources and barriers to accessing essential services.

Medical social workers help address these concerns through psychosocial assessments, counseling and support, resource coordination, and collaboration with other health care professionals.

Falatihan also introduced students to the growing specialization of social work in Indonesia, highlighting eight thematic professional associations associated with the Indonesian Professional Social Workers Association (IPSPI).

These include associations focusing on children and families (APSAKI), substance addiction (APSANI), disasters and humanitarian response (APSOBKI), gerontology (APSAGI), corporate social responsibility, medical social work (APSMI), criminal justice and correctional services (APSOSPEKSI), and disability (APDISI).

The discussion offered students a broader perspective on the profession, illustrating how social workers operate across diverse institutional settings and why professional networks, continuing education and specialized competencies matter.

Knowledge, Skills and Values in Action

In the afternoon session, Naufal drew on his professional experience in substance use rehabilitation and working with young people facing behavioral and social challenges.

At the heart of his presentation was a fundamental principle of professional social work: the integration of three essential foundations — the body of knowledge, the body of skills and the body of values.

Knowledge, he explained, provides the theoretical and scientific understanding needed to assess human behavior, social environments and complex social problems.

Skills translate that understanding into practice through assessment, communication, relationship-building, intervention and evaluation.

Values, meanwhile, serve as the profession's ethical compass, emphasizing human dignity, confidentiality, nondiscrimination, social justice and respect for individual differences.

For practitioners working with individuals affected by substance use and social stigma, these foundations cannot remain abstract concepts. They must guide everyday professional decisions, particularly when navigating complicated family relationships, difficult rehabilitation processes and the uncertainties of behavioral change.

Naufal's account underscored the importance of empathy, patience, ethical judgment and professional resilience in a field where progress is not always immediate or straightforward.

Connecting Academic Learning With Professional Realities

Beyond sharing career experiences, the guest lectures sought to bridge the gap between academic theory and the realities of professional practice.

Students were introduced to the ways social work concepts — including social functioning, human behavior, professional ethics and the person-in-environment perspective — are applied in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and other social service settings.

The sessions also reinforced a central distinction: professional social work is not simply an expression of goodwill or charitable concern. It is a discipline grounded in scientific knowledge, specialized skills, ethical principles and professional accountability.

For the Social Welfare Studies Program, the event reflected a broader commitment to strengthening connections between higher education, alumni and professional practice.

By bringing graduates back into the classroom, the program aims to give students a clearer understanding of potential career pathways while encouraging them to develop the competencies needed to respond to increasingly complex social challenges.

The gathering also highlighted the continuing role of alumni in shaping the next generation of social workers.

For students beginning their academic journey, the message was clear: becoming a social worker involves more than earning a degree. It requires lifelong learning, professional integrity and a sustained commitment to improving people's lives.

And sometimes, the most valuable lessons come from those who have already walked the path.