UPNVJ Public Relations – The Veteran National Development University (UPNVJ), through its Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), has established a partnership with the Democracy and Electoral Empowerment Partnership (DEEP) Indonesia to strengthen the role of young people in strengthening democracy in Indonesia. The partnership was officially marked with the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) at Cafe Breezy, Rumah Perubahan, Bekasi, West Java (August 20).
This collaboration aims to encourage youth engagement in democracy issues, particularly through internships, guest lectures, joint research, and community service. The signing of the MoU marks the first step in building an inclusive, gender-sensitive, and digital-based democratic ecosystem.
DEEP Indonesia Director Neni Nur Hayati stated that this collaboration aligns with her organization's mission, which focuses on strengthening democracy through youth engagement. "We are grateful for the trust placed in us by FISIP UPNVJ. This internship program provides a strategic platform to engage young people in creating a healthy, inclusive, and gender-sensitive digital climate," Neni said.
Neni added that DEEP Indonesia is committed to building a fair and ethical digital space, by involving youth, including women, as agents of change. This step is considered crucial to addressing the challenges of democracy in the digital age.
Meanwhile, Musa Maliki, Ph.D., Vice Dean for Students, Alumni, and Partnerships at UPNVJ's Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), emphasized that this collaboration is not limited to internships. "We hope this collaboration can be expanded to other academic areas, such as guest lectures, joint research, and community service, to have a broader impact on the academic community and society," said Musa.
The signing ceremony of the PKS was attended by several important figures, including Prof. Rhenald Kasali, founder of Rumah Perubahan, and Fauziah Hanifah, Regional Coordinator of DEEP Indonesia West Java. Also present from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) of UPNVJ were Restu Rahmawati, S.Sos., M.Sos. (Coordinator of the Political Science Study Program), Ayu Wardani, SIKom., MA (Lecturer in the Communication Science Study Program), as well as the collaboration and media team of FISIP UPNVJ.
This collaboration between UPNVJ and DEEP Indonesia is expected to be a significant milestone in preparing the younger generation to become key actors in strengthening democracy with integrity in Indonesia. By prioritizing academic collaboration and the active involvement of young people, UPNVJ continues to affirm its commitment as an educational institution that contributes to the development of a democratic and inclusive nation.