SEMARANG (9/9) — Research collaboration between the Kelompok Bidang Keilmuan (KBK) Public Governance of the Department of Public Administration (DAP), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Diponegoro University, and the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman has once again produced results. In addition to discussing the issue of ‘Green HRM,’ the academics also discussed plans to publish a scientific article entitled “Bridging the Digital Divide: A Comparative Analysis of Public Service Innovation and Digital Governance in Indonesia and the Philippines.”
This article is a collaborative work of Dr. Amni Zarkasyi Rahman, M.Si, Azaria Eda Pradana, S.A.P., MAP, and Prof. Alex Brillantes Jr., Ph.D., highlighting a comparison of public service innovation strategies and digital governance in the two most populous countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
The research examines the different paths taken by the two countries in digital transformation. Indonesia, described as following a “hybrid” model, relies on a decentralized approach that promotes competition at the local level while also implementing centralized policies through a “super-app” concept to address system fragmentation.
On the other hand, the Philippines, despite having a history of decentralization, adopts a more concentrated and nationally integrated digital strategy (whole-of-government). This approach is chosen to overcome slow bureaucracy and fragmented legacy systems.
This topic is highly relevant considering the urgency of accelerating public services in the digital era. The research is expected to provide in-depth understanding of best practices and challenges faced by each country in their efforts to bridge the digital divide and create more effective governance.
This collaboration demonstrates the strong commitment of FISIP UNDIP academics not only to produce high-quality scholarly work but also to ensure relevance to global public administration developments. This research partnership is also a concrete strategy by the Dean of FISIP UNDIP, Dr. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin, to strengthen the faculty’s position toward a top-400 world ranking while affirming its status as a ‘World Class Faculty.’
