UNAIR NEWS – Ahead of the Election Watch in collaboration with the Prince of Songkla University, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) is gearing up with various agendas to facilitate knowledge transfer between both parties. The goal is to gain insights into the organization of General Elections (Pemilu) in Indonesia.

Election Watch is collaborative research between the Political Science Department of FISIP UNAIR and the Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, which will be held on February 8-15, 2024. The Person in Charge (PIC) Kalimah Wasis Lestari SIP MSc stated that the Election Watch is designed to offer students practical experience and a comprehensive understanding of the political landscape.

To ensure its optimal execution, FISIP UNAIR has been preparing for the Election Watch event six months in advance. “We have organized a series of events to be held over a duration of 8-9 days. We formed a committee consisting of both lecturers and students, with 16 students, six of whom will be the Liaison Officers (LO),” she explained.

Kalimah believed that the Election Watch event provided an opportunity for Prince of Songkla University students to observe the organization of elections in Indonesia. They will be involved in witnessing the campaign fervor conducted by all candidates for legislative and executive positions. It also involves touring the city to observe billboards, banners, and other campaign paraphernalia.

Students will also visit political parties, mass organizations, Polling Stations (TPS), the General Election Commission (KPU), and the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu). “From there, they can delve deeper into their research focus and topics. As a bonus, they get to witness the voting and counting process in Indonesia. On the last day, they will present what they have gained from this activity,” she explained.

The research topics carried out by Prince of Songkla University lecturers and students are diverse. They range from campaign strategies employed by candidates to public awareness of elections, to an overview of political parties in Indonesia.

Kalimah hopes that the activity can bring a positive internationalization process for both parties. Therefore, the potential collaboration between FISIP UNAIR and Prince of Songkla University is not limited to election research but extends to broader areas like student exchange.

“The internationalization process allows Political Science students to gain knowledge from international students, and vice versa. Students will benefit from acquiring knowledge, gaining insights, and expanding their networking opportunities,” concluded Kalimah.

Author: FISIP UNAIR Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia