DAAD Alumni Treffen and Seminar 2025: “Digital Indonesia: Towards Inclusion and Empowerment in Indonesia’s Digital Era”
The DAAD Alumni Treffen and Seminar 2025, being held in Yogyakarta, 27-29 April 2025, was attended by 28 DAAD alumni, exceeding the initial target of 25 participants. The alumni came not only from various regions across Indonesia, including Ujung Pandang, Makassar, Jakarta, Bandung, Bogor, Malang, and Yogyakarta, but also from abroad, namely Malaysia. The event was also graced by the presence of Dr. Guido Schnieders (Director of the DAAD Jakarta Office), Nina Eifler (DAAD Lektorin), Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Vice Rector of Education and Learning, who also served as one of the keynote speakers, and the Dean of the Graduate School of UGM. The seminar commenced with an opening speech delivered by Dr. Ratna Noviani, Chair of the Event Committee, followed by a speech from Dr. Guido Schnieders. In his address, Dr. Schnieders presented the history and milestones of the DAAD, highlighting that in 2025, DAAD celebrates its 100th anniversary, while DAAD Indonesia marks its 35th anniversary. The event was officially opened by Prof. Ir. Siti Malchamah, M.Sc., Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Prior to the keynote speech session, a book launch was also held for Digital Indonesia: Inclusion and Equality in Gender, Sexuality, Religion, Ecology, and Disability (Kanisius Publisher, 2025). The publication of this book represents a tangible effort by DAAD alumni to produce and disseminate knowledge and insights on digital inclusion, not only within the Indonesian context but also extending to Malaysia and Germany. Published in English, the book aims to make the contributions of both DAAD and non-DAAD participants accessible to a broader international audience. During the seminar, the book titled Digital Indonesia: Inclusion and Equality in Gender, Sexuality, Religion, Ecology, and Disability was officially launched, marking a significant milestone in the alumni’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive and critical digital discourse across borders.
The seminar featured three external speakers, Indonesian researchers and activists dedicated to the empowerment of minority groups. Two of these speakers were invited and sponsored by UGM. Additionally, the seminar was attended by activists, lecturers, and students from the Media and Cultural Studies program, the Graduate School, UGM, which hosted the event. In total, the seminar brought together 50 participants.
Prof. Dr. Hong Ching Goh, a DAAD alumna from Malaysia, delivered a keynote address alongside Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, an external speaker from UGM. Prof. Dr. Goh, an interdisciplinary social scientist specializing in human-environment interactionism, presented her research on digitalization in rural coastal communities in Sabah, Malaysia. She highlighted that digital literacy in these communities is often overlooked due to the persistent digital divide and the lack of digital infrastructure in such areas. According to Prof. Dr. Goh, there are numerous challenges and opportunities that must be addressed to ensure that digitalization in these regions leads to real empowerment. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, an expert in gender and discourse analysis, discussed the rise of the Institutionalized Luxury Lifestyle Ecosystem in Indonesia’s digital space. Enabled by technological advancements and the widespread use of social media platforms, individuals, including politicians, families of state officials, and even religious leaders, are increasingly engaging in various forms of “flexing” by displaying their lavish lifestyles. She concluded that the display of luxury as a sign value goes beyond individual expression shaped by capitalism; it reflects an institutionalized ecosystem in which the state plays an active role in legitimizing and sustaining luxury lifestyle practices and their supporting infrastructures. Together, the keynote presentations offered interdisciplinary insights into the social transformations occurring alongside the development of digital technology. This keynote session was moderated by Anggoro Cahyo Sukartiko, S.T.P., M.P., Ph.D., a DAAD Alumna from UGM.
The second parallel session took place in a breakout room. The first panel session focused on the theme “Land of Differences and Politics of Visibility.” The session featured three presentations by DAAD alumni, each offering distinct perspectives on ecological and social challenges in Indonesia’s digital era. Prof. Dr. Hermin Indah Wahyuni (DAAD Alumna from UGM) opened the session with a paper on Ecological Communication in the Complexity of Modern Society, exploring how environmental issues are communicated within the dynamics of a rapidly evolving society. Dr. Phil Dewi Candraningrum (DAAD Alumna from UMS) followed with a presentation titled Planet, Pollution, and Sarmini’s Leadership: A Study of Digital Activism by Nguter Sukoharjo Residents against PT. RUM, which highlighted the use of social media platforms in the grassroots environmental movement led by local women against industrial pollution. Lastly, Dr. Muh. Ali Imron (DAAD Alumnus, World Wildlife Fund) presented Living With The Tides: Climate Risks and Indigenous Life Along the Papua Coast, examining the climate vulnerabilities faced by indigenous coastal communities in Papua. The session was moderated by Dr. Onny Setyawati (DAAD Alumna from Universitas Brawijaya), who facilitated a thought-provoking discussion on how visibility, activism, and ecological discourse intersect in Indonesia’s diverse sociopolitical landscape.
The second panel session centered on the theme “Mediating Minorities and Activism in Digital Space,” offering critical insights into how marginalized voices navigate and engage with digital platforms. The session featured three thought-provoking presentations. Dr. Rivi Handayani, an external speaker, researcher, and activist from Kendari, Central Sulawesi, opened the panel with a paper titled SelfRepresentation of Persons with Disabilities on Instagram and TikTok: Empowerment or Inspiration Porn?, examining the complexities of online visibility and the fine line between empowerment and objectification. Next, Dr. Phil Ramayda Akmal, an external speaker, activist, and feminist writer, presented Constructing the Reading-Self: Indonesian Bookstagrammers in the Age of Platform Capitalism, analyzing how digital literary culture intersects with identity, consumerism, and gender in the algorithm-driven landscape of social media. The final presentation was delivered by Dr. Phil Yoseph Bambang Wiratmojo (DAAD Alumnus from Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta), who discussed “I Know What I Should Do on Social Media”: Privacy Practices and the Digital Literacy Phenomenon among Indonesian Adolescents, shedding light on the digital habits and awareness of young social media users. The session was moderated by Dr. Souvia Rahimah (DAAD Alumna from Universitas Padjadjaran), who guided the dialogue toward exploring how digital platforms both empower and complicate the activism and representation of minorities in Indonesia.
In each session, a question-and-answer segment followed the presentations, allowing for dynamic interaction between speakers and participants. The audience in both panel sessions showed strong enthusiasm, raising insightful questions, sharing relevant personal and professional experiences, and offering constructive feedback. These discussions transformed the sessions into vibrant forums for knowledge exchange, reflection, and dialogue. Both panels served not only as academic presentations but also as collaborative spaces where DAAD alumni and non-DAAD attendees could engage, learn from one another, and deepen their understanding of the complex intersections between digital technology, activism, and minority representation in Indonesia.
The final afternoon of the seminar was dedicated to the World Café Forum, an outdoor forum designed to foster casual and informal conversations among DAAD alumni and other seminar attendees. The relaxed atmosphere and warm setting encouraged participants to interact more intimately, exchanging ideas, experiences, and insights in a setting that felt open and collaborative. This informal forum allowed for deeper connections to form, not only within academic and activist contexts but also on a personal level. Many participants discovered overlapping research interests or shared areas of activism, which led to meaningful networking and the development of potential future collaborations. The World Café Forum thus served as a valuable closing segment, reinforcing the seminar’s spirit of inclusivity, empowerment, and collective engagement.*
