Muhammad Izzul Haq, a lecturer in the Social Welfare Study Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, discussed the development of social work in Indonesia at an international online forum hosted by the Syrian branch of Nahdlatul Ulama on Oct. 8, 2023.

The event, titled “A Closer Look at Social Work: Opportunities for Study and Development in Indonesia,” was broadcast live on the branch’s Instagram account, @pcinu_suriah. It formed part of a series of discussions leading up to the organization’s seventh branch conference.

The forum introduced social work as both an academic discipline and a profession to audiences in Syria and members of Indonesian communities abroad.

Haq, who teaches in the university’s Faculty of Da’wah and Communication, brought an academic and community leadership perspective to the discussion. At the time, he was pursuing a doctorate in social work at McGill University in Canada and serving as chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama’s branch for the United States and Canada. Muhammad Iskandar Dzulqornain, secretary of the Syrian branch, moderated the event.

The discussion focused on the foundations of social work and the opportunities for its study and development in Indonesia. The event’s framework presented social work as a field grounded in professional knowledge, skills and values, with the aim of strengthening people’s capacity to navigate their social environments and improving their well-being. Social justice, human rights, empowerment and respect for diversity were central to that introduction.

The theme also provided a starting point for examining how concern for others translates into professional practice. Social work involves supporting individuals, families, groups and communities as they confront difficulties, while addressing the wider social conditions that shape their lives. The development of social work education and professional practice in Indonesia formed part of the forum’s broader focus.

A presentation was followed by questions submitted through Instagram’s comment section. The online format created a space for discussion across national borders and for exchanges within Nahdlatul Ulama’s overseas network.

For UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s Social Welfare Study Program, Haq’s participation extended its academic outreach to an international audience, connecting university expertise with Indonesian community networks abroad.