Universitas Padjadjaran held an Inauguration Ceremony and Scientific Oration for the Appointment of Professors in the Faculty of Communication Science. The event took place at Grha Sanusi Hardjadinata, Unpad Campus Iwa Koesoemasoemantri, Bandung. On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, three professors from the Faculty of Communication Science participated in the Inauguration Ceremony and Scientific Oration.
The Inauguration ceremony was opened by the Rector of Universitas Padjadjaran, Prof. Rina Indiastuti, and led by the Chairman of the Unpad Professor Council, Prof. Arief Anshory Yusuf, M.Sc., PhD. The three newly appointed professors who participated in the Inauguration Ceremony and Scientific Oration in the field of Communication Science were Prof. Dr. Atwar Bajari, M.Si., Prof. Dr. Eni Maryani, M.Si., and Prof. Dr. Ninis Agustini, M.Lib.
The third session of the Inauguration Ceremony and Scientific Oration began with a Scientific Oration delivered by Prof. Dr. Atwar Bajari, M.Si., titled “Hate Speech and Identity Conflict: Seeking Dialectical Communication in Social Media.” He highlighted the issue of hate speech in social media using Virtual Ethnography and Qualitative Analysis approaches. He explained that the increasing incidence of hate speech in social media is concerning, as social media becomes a campaigning medium that constructs loyalty among supporters while degrading the opposing party. Hate speech is a social fact, and intergroup conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, seeking common ground, and respecting differences.
Next, Prof. Dr. Eni Maryani, M.Si., delivered her scientific oration titled “Critical Media Studies: A Reflection of Communication Democratization.” Her study focused on the problems of the media industry that distort social communication in society. “The diversity of media that develops in society is expected to facilitate diverse public spaces, so that public policies can not only be known, understood, and implemented but also well-controlled,” she stated.
The final agenda in the third session was the scientific oration presented by Prof. Dr. Ninis Agustini, M.Lib., titled “Disaster Mitigation Literacy Based on Local Wisdom.” She emphasized the importance of increasing public awareness regarding unpredictable disaster potentials and knowing how to mitigate them.
The Inauguration Ceremony and Scientific Oration for the Appointment of Professors at Universitas Padjadjaran are expected to contribute to the development of various fields of knowledge, particularly in the field of Communication Science. The recording of the Inauguration Ceremony and Scientific Oration at Universitas Padjadjaran can be watched on the university’s YouTube channel. (Source: fikom.unpad.ac.id)
