Profile of the Department of Social Welfare Studies

Social welfare is a condition in which basic human needs are fulfilled, allowing every individual to live decently, with dignity, and to have the opportunity to develop optimally. This concept encompasses not only economic aspects but also health, education, security, social relationships, and access to resources and public services. In other words, social welfare aims to create harmony between the needs of individuals, families, and communities within a just and inclusive environment.

As an academic discipline, social welfare studies explore ways to understand, prevent, and address various social problems faced by society. This field integrates theory, research, and practical experience to develop sustainable solutions through policies, programs, and social services. Its main focus is to strengthen the capacity of individuals and communities to face social challenges, reduce inequality, and improve overall quality of life.

The Department of Social Welfare Studies, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FISIP UI), is one of the pioneers of social welfare education in Indonesia with a long-standing history since its establishment. With a continuously updated curriculum that aligns with scientific developments and societal needs, we prepare students to become professionals capable of designing, implementing, and evaluating social welfare programs across various sectors.

All study programs have received an A accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.

To become a leading Department of Social Welfare Studies at the national and Southeast Asian levels by developing research-based teaching and conducting applied research or service programs that benefit society.

1. To organize a high-quality teaching process aimed at producing graduates with strong academic and moral competitiveness.
2. Producing high-quality research works that are beneficial to society.
3. Actively participates in the development of social policies at the local, regional, and national levels.
4. Developing professional academic and non-academic human resources to improve the quality of services for stakeholders.
5. Implementing a professional management system based on transparency and accountability.

The Department of Social Welfare Studies is part of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FISIP UI), and has played a significant role in the development of social welfare education and scholarship in Indonesia. Established on September 1, 1962, by C. L. Rudolph, this department became the first formal institution to offer social welfare education within a national university setting. Since its inception, the Department has served as a response to the urgent need for professional personnel capable of addressing various social issues in a systematic, scientific, and ethical manner.

The institutional journey of this Department began with the Faculty of Social Sciences (IPK), which at that time was still under the Faculty of Law at the University of Indonesia. Over time, through various phases of reorganization and academic strengthening, the Social Welfare Studies program eventually reestablished its independence in the early 1980s. Since then, the Department has continued to grow—both in institutional capacity and scholarly contribution—by establishing the Master’s Program in 1994 and the Doctoral Program in 2008, marking a significant milestone as the first institution in Indonesia to offer a doctoral program in the field of social welfare.

Amid increasingly complex social dynamics—ranging from urbanization, social inequality, and climate change to multidimensional crises such as the pandemic—the discipline and profession of social welfare have become ever more relevant and strategic. The Department of Social Welfare Studies, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, serves not only as a center for education but also as an intellectual and practical space for formulating solutions grounded in data, humanitarian values, and the principles of social justice. Through cross-sector collaboration, transformative research, and community capacity building, the department is committed to producing graduates who are adaptive, reflective, and capable of becoming agents of change in developing an inclusive and sustainable welfare system.