Mataram, Universitas Mataram – The Sociology Study Program of Universitas Mataram (Unram) held a National Seminar 3 with the theme “Social and Cultural Dynamics of Coastal and Island Communities” at the Jayakarta Hotel, Senggigi on Thursday (29/9).

The national seminar, which was also held hybribly through the Zoom Meeting, was filled with presentations by 35 speakers from 17 universities throughout Indonesia. The 4 main speakers in this national seminar, namely Prof. Emy Susanti, MA. (Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Women/Gender and Children’s Studies Centers, Professor of Universitas Airlangga); Dr. Sitti Hilyana, M.Si., (President of Indonesian Marine Scientist Association); Oki Rahadianto Sutopo, Ph.D. (Director of Youth Studies FISIPOL UGM); and Muslim, ST., M.Si. (Head of the NTB Marine and Fisheries Service).

Some of the sub-themes presented are related to gender, vulnerable and marginalized groups; environmental issues and climate change; development and local politics; digital society, lifestyle and youth issues; conflict and conflict resolution; religion, social capital and local wisdom; poverty and social inequality; and community education and development.

In this activity, the Governor of West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB), represented by the Head of the NTB Marine and Fisheries Service, namely Muslim, ST., M.Si. was also present to deliver the main speech. Muslims also appreciate the Unram Sociology Study Program which has made the coast and small islands as the locus of its study.

“There are so many studies that we have to do to map various problems and socio-cultural dynamics in coastal areas and small islands. Their distinctive characteristics and their distinctive life patterns require special attention, both from practitioners and academics. And the government has issued Law No. 1 of 2014 concerning amendments to Law No. 27 of 2007 concerning the management of coastal areas and small islands,” said Muslim.

The Head of the NTB Marine and Fisheries Service also hopes that there will be cooperation between Unram and the NTB Regional Government related to coastal areas and small islands, “there are many positive things that we can synergize, to accelerate the development of human resources and infrastructure in the region,” he continued.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sitti Hilyana, M.Si. in her presentation entitled “Building the Resilience of Coastal Communities and Small Islands Towards a Golden Indonesia 2045”, emphasized the need for attention from all parties to the determining factors in bringing the welfare of coastal communities. These factors include those related to coastal human resources and small islands, environmental quality, post-harvest technology, and capital, as well as concern for their culture and work ethic.

Prof. Emy Susanti, MA. from Universitas Airlangga explained the problem of gender bias that still occurs and is one of the problems in coastal areas and small islands. In fact, according to her, during the pandemic yesterday, the resilience of the fishing community was supported a lot because of the active number of women helping their household economy.

Furthermore, Oki Rahadianto Sutopo, Ph.D. who explained about “Understanding Coastal Youth” invited participants to how to understand young people on the coast as part of the younger generation who are also experiencing changes; that they are also relatively connected globally, although they remain attached to the local culture. It is also necessary to understand that they, the young on the coast and small islands also have aspirations for the future. Although it is also recognized that in today’s rapid and massive atmosphere of change, not all coastal young people and small islands can participate and be able to reflexively adaptively.

The Head of the Sociology Study Program, Ir. Rosiady Husaenie Sayuti, M.Sc., Ph.D., who opened the event officially on behalf of the Rector of Unram, expressed his appreciation to the speakers. It was also conveyed that in the scientific arena, the Unram Sociology Study Program has established its locus of study in the future, namely for the development of coastal areas and small islands.

“There are thousands of small islands throughout Indonesia and dozens of small inhabited islands in NTB that require special studies so that they have resilience in building themselves and their environment, socially and culturally. For this reason, cooperation with the local government is a necessity,” said Rosiady.

Hafizah Awalia, S.Pd., M.Socio. as the Chairman of the Committee for the 3rd National Seminar, he also expressed his gratitude for the support and cooperation from various related parties.

“In the future, we hope that the Sociology Study Program can establish even better cooperation with various parties and hopefully input and suggestions can be given to the committee for the implementation of the seminar next year 2023 can be carried out even better,” concluded Hafizah, who is also a Sociology Lecturer from Taliwang City, West Sumbawa Regency.