Semarang, September 11, 2025 – The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Universitas Diponegoro continues to expand its academic collaborations by engaging international experts. This time, FISIP UNDIP is hosting two professors from the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Brazil—Prof. Afonso Albuquerque and Prof. Thaiane Oliveira—through a Visiting Professor Program taking place from September 9–18, 2025.

This program marks an important momentum for UNDIP in advancing academic discourse on communication, disinformation, and digital transformation, particularly from the perspectives of Global South countries.

Inaugural Lecture: Disinformation Studies as an Emerging Field
One of the program’s highlights was the inaugural lecture titled “Disinformation Studies as an Emerging Field of Knowledge” delivered by Prof. Albuquerque, followed by a public lecture by Prof. Oliveira on “Epistemic Sovereignty in Times of Disinformation: Global South Perspectives from Brazil and Indonesia.”

Both scholars emphasized that disinformation should not be narrowly understood as “fake news.” According to Prof. Albuquerque, it is a systemic phenomenon requiring an interdisciplinary approach. Meanwhile, Prof. Oliveira highlighted the importance of epistemic sovereignty amid the overwhelming flow of global information.

FISIP UNDIP’s Commitment to International Collaboration
Dean of FISIP UNDIP, Dr. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin, stressed that such international collaborations are a strategic step to strengthen Indonesia’s academic capacity.

“Through continuous partnerships with international institutions, FISIP UNDIP is committed to making meaningful contributions in addressing global challenges, including the threat of disinformation that can undermine democracy,” he stated.

In addition to public lectures, the program also included research collaboration discussions between CiteLab (Brazil) and the Digital Technology and Society Expertise Group at FISIP UNDIP. The joint research topics cover health communication, disinformation issues in the Global South, and preparations for the upcoming BRICS+ Academic Event 2026.

International Research Forum and Workshops
On September 12, 2025, the program continued with an International Research Roundtable and a Workshop on Research Methodology in Science Communication, in collaboration with ASPIKOM Central Java–Yogyakarta. The forum featured presentations of preliminary studies on health communication, non-communicable diseases, and issues of digital ageism.

Through this series of activities, FISIP UNDIP reaffirms its position as an active academic hub in building global networks. The collaboration with UFF Brazil is expected to establish a strong foundation for joint research, academic mobility, and strengthening the Global South’s role in addressing the challenges of disinformation and digital transformation.