The Master's Program in Social Welfare successfully held a Public Lecture entitled "Evidence-Based Poverty Reduction: Mengapa Kebijakan Butuh Riset? (Why Policies Need Research)". This academic event was held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 13:00 to 15:30 WIB. Located in the Meeting Room of the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication on the 2nd floor, this discussion forum was attended by Master's students in Social Welfare, representatives of undergraduate (S1) students in Social Welfare, and lecturers. This public lecture featured Katiman Kartowinomo, Ph.D., as the main speaker to deeply analyze the importance of research in public policy formulation.

In his opening remarks, the Head of the Master's Program in Social Welfare, Muh Ulil Abshar, Ph.D., expressed his high appreciation for the presence of the speaker and the participants. He emphasized that Katiman Kartowinomo, Ph.D. is a prominent expert actively involved as a policy formulator at the national level. Furthermore, Muh Ulil Abshar, Ph.D. stated that public lectures like this are a highly strategic medium for the academic community to know, explore, and delve into the critical thoughts of experts in the field of social welfare.

Entering the core presentation session, Katiman Kartowinomo, Ph.D. opened the discussion with an essential assertion that not only poverty issues but all forms of policy inherently require valid research foundations. He explained that discussions about poverty cannot be separated from the global dynamics and situations that influence it. Especially in the context of poverty handling in Indonesia, the strategic steps taken have a very close and inseparable connection to the national development planning system. Regarding the empirical measurement framework, the speaker dissected important facts about how the poverty rate is calculated in Indonesia. He revealed that the poverty calculation instrument in the country does not use direct income data but rather utilizes a proxy or public expenditure approach. Interestingly, within this expenditure approach, specific consumption variables such as spending on cigarettes and internet quotas are included in the calculation components that determine a person's welfare status.

At the end of his presentation, he highlighted the evolution of poverty-handling policy approaches implemented by the government. He explained that the initial paradigm relying on the trickle-down effect has now transformed because it was deemed ineffective. These poverty alleviation policies gradually changed towards regional and demographic targeting approaches, until finally shifting significantly towards an individual approach realized through various direct social assistance programs.