Pekanbaru, October 11, 2025 — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Riau (FISIP UNRI), held a Socialization on the Prevention and Handling of Violence in Higher Education Institutions (PPKPT) on Saturday (11/10) at the Kuantan Room, Integrated Classroom Building, Universitas Riau.
The event was officially opened by Yuana Nurulita, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Finance and General Affairs, representing the Rector of Universitas Riau, Prof. Dr. Sri Indarti, S.E., M.Si.
Yuana Nurulita shared her personal experience during her studies in Australia, illustrating how the education system in developed countries successfully fosters a safe and ethical learning environment.
“During my time studying in Australia, I felt completely safe. Cases of violence, whether verbal or physical, were almost nonexistent. This was not merely because of regulations, but because of a deeply rooted culture of awareness and mutual respect within the community and the campus,” she said.
She expressed hope that the same spirit could grow within Universitas Riau, ensuring that all members of the academic community feel safe and protected in their academic and social activities.
Earlier, Dr. Meyzi Heriyanto, S.Sos., M.Si., Dean of FISIP Universitas Riau, emphasized the importance of collective efforts to prevent and address violence on campus.
“The theme of this event aligns with FISIP UNRI’s commitment to creating an inclusive, safe, and ethical campus environment. The prevention of violence—including gender-based violence and cyberbullying—is not only the institution’s responsibility but also that of every individual within it,” he stated.
The event was also attended by Eko Budi Prasetyo, S.Kom., Head of the Public Relations Team at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, who underlined the crucial role of public communication in raising awareness and promoting participation across all campus elements regarding violence prevention in higher education.
According to him, preventive and responsive measures against violence should go beyond policy formulation—they must also include effective communication strategies so that the message of protection and mutual respect is well understood and practiced by the entire academic community.
“The Ministry is committed to strengthening public literacy on PPKPT. Socialization events like this are key to ensuring that universities understand the mechanisms of prevention, response, and reporting of violence cases appropriately,” Eko explained.
He also commended Universitas Riau, particularly FISIP, for taking a proactive role and becoming a pioneer in creating open dialogue spaces to address issues of violence in education.
The event featured Dr. Karmila Sari, S.Kom., M.M., Member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, as the keynote speaker. In her presentation, Dr. Karmila highlighted the persistent occurrence of violence in educational institutions, including universities.
“Violence in education remains prevalent—from bullying and sexual harassment to psychological pressure. A campus should be a safe space for learning and growth, not one that instills fear,” she asserted.
The presentation session continued with two main speakers: Dr. Nopriadi, SKM., M.Kes., Head of LLDIKTI Region XVII, and Dr. Separen, S.H., M.H., Head of the PPKPT Task Force at Universitas Riau.
Dr. Nopriadi addressed the growing phenomenon of cyberbullying among students.
“Online bullying has become a new and increasingly uncontrollable form of violence. The unethical use of social media can inflict psychological harm even deeper than physical violence,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Dr. Separen elaborated on the initiatives undertaken by Universitas Riau through the PPKPT Task Force, emphasizing that acts of violence are no longer confined to physical spaces but have shifted to digital platforms.
“Many forms of violence now occur online—ranging from degrading comments and unauthorized photo distribution to verbal harassment on digital platforms. Therefore, digital literacy and empathy must be integral parts of character education on campus,” he stated.
“We continue to promote accessible reporting mechanisms, ensure confidentiality for victims, and provide both psychological and legal support,” he added.
The event, moderated by Dra. Risdayati, M.Si., Head of the FISIP UNRI P2K (Complaints, Assistance, and Health Corner), ran interactively. The discussion and Q&A sessions reflected high enthusiasm among participants—comprising lecturers, education staff, and students.
The event concluded with a group photo session, symbolizing a shared commitment to building a safe, violence-free, and just campus environment.
(RIRY, Photo: Ist)
