Padang, September 11, 2025 – Departement of Political Science, Universitas Andalas, held an International Community Service Program themed “Strengthening the Competence of Civil Servants (ASN) at the West Sumatran Office for Social and Disability Service.” The event is collaoration with Australian Catholic University (ACU) took place on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 10.00 a.m. in the Hall of UPTD Panti Sosial Bina Grahita Harapan Ibu (PSBGHI), West Sumatra Provincial Office of Social Affairs.
The program was officially opened by the Vice Dean I of FISIP UNAND, Dr. Tengku Rika Valentina, S.IP., M.A., and was a collaborative effort between the Department of Political Science and the Department of Communication Studies at FISIP UNAND.
In his remarks, Mas Suyanto, Secretary of the West Sumatra Social Affairs Office, expressed his appreciation: “We are very pleased with this program, and we hope that sustainable collaboration can continue in the future.”
The Role of Political Science in Disability Policy Evaluation
The main session was moderated by Dr. Indah Adi Putri, S.IP., M.IP., featuring international guest speaker Dr. Dina Afrianty from Australian Catholic University.
In her presentation, Dr. Dina highlighted the crucial role of political science in analyzing and evaluating disability-related policies at national, provincial, and local levels. “Political science plays an important role in providing policy recommendations to the government to ensure the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Well-designed policies—based on real needs such as social home facilities and equal job opportunities—will not only improve inclusivity but also benefit the state through tax contributions from people with disabilities,” she explained.
She further emphasized that, according to Susenas and Bappenas data, people with disabilities in Indonesia account for 15–20% of the population, a proportion comparable to the population of Australia.
Civil Servants as the Frontline of Inclusive Services
Dr. Dina also underlined the importance of recognizing the work of civil servants (ASN) who serve persons with disabilities. “The most essential step to strengthen disability services is to provide appropriate recognition and fair remuneration. Serving persons with disabilities requires greater effort and responsibility compared to serving the general population,” she stated.
Her message underscored that ASN are the frontline actors whose welfare and commitment directly influence the quality of public services for vulnerable groups.
Toward More Inclusive Public Services
Through this program, FISIP UNAND seeks to strengthen the capacity of civil servants in providing inclusive public services, ensuring that persons with disabilities gain equal rights, responsibilities, and dignity in areas such as health, education, employment, social assistance, and community services.
The event concluded with the presentation of a certificate by Dr. Zulfadli, M.Si., Head of the Department of Political Science at FISIP UNAND, to the Secretary of the West Sumatra Social Affairs Office. The moment marked the beginning of a sustainable collaboration to improve inclusive public services in West Sumatra.
