The Master's Program in Social Welfare (MKS) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta continues to strengthen its institutional partnerships to support the implementation of the university's threefold mission of education, research, and community engagement. As part of this commitment, the program held a meeting with LAZ MKU on Tuesday, July 27, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the LAZ MKU Office.

The meeting was attended by Supriyadi Jondhy, S.IP., M.IP., C.Z.M., Head of LAZ MKU, accompanied by Arif Yulianto, Program Director. Representing the Master's Program in Social Welfare was Dr. Aryan Torrido. The discussion took place in a warm and productive atmosphere, reflecting a shared commitment to developing impactful community empowerment initiatives. A key agenda of the meeting was to explore the possibility of establishing a formal Partnership Agreement (PKS) between the Master's Program in Social Welfare and LAZ MKU. One of the proposed areas of collaboration is the community assistance program for buruh gendong (traditional female porters), a marginalized group that plays an important role in local economic activities while continuing to face various social and economic challenges. Both institutions expressed a common interest in supporting empowerment programs that promote the community's capacity, independence, and overall well-being.

The meeting also discussed the potential role of the Master's Program in Social Welfare as a strategic partner in strengthening the capacity of LAZ MKU's community facilitators. Specifically, the program is expected to contribute expertise in social mapping, equipping facilitators with the knowledge and skills needed to identify community characteristics, local resources, social dynamics, and development needs. Such an approach is expected to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of community empowerment programs. Through this initial meeting, both institutions expressed their commitment to fostering long-term collaboration in education, research, and community service. The partnership between the Master's Program in Social Welfare at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta and LAZ MKU is expected to generate innovative approaches to community empowerment while contributing to broader efforts to improve social welfare and sustainable community development in Indonesia.