Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) kicked off 2026 by hosting the International Conference on Social Science and Technology (ICSST) on Wednesday (January 7, 2026). This international conference carried the theme “AI-Driven World: Global Challenges and Opportunities” and was attended by hundreds of participants from diverse academic backgrounds and professional fields.
The Rector of UMPWR, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teguh Wibowo, M.Pd., officially opened the conference. In his opening remarks, he emphasized the crucial role of higher education institutions in responding to the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, which increasingly influences various aspects of life.
“The development of artificial intelligence not only presents opportunities but also major challenges. Universities have the responsibility to ensure that the use of AI remains grounded in humanitarian values, ethics, and social benefit,” said Teguh Wibowo.
Furthermore, the Rector explained that the organization of ICSST 2026 also represents the realization of international cooperation programs that UMPWR has established with overseas partner universities.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tusino, Vice Rector for Al-Islam and Kemuhammadiyahan (AIK) and Cooperation, also stated that through this conference, the university seeks to strengthen academic collaboration, research initiatives, and the exchange of ideas at the global level.
ICSST 2026 featured four speakers from universities in four different countries—Indonesia, Russia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The speakers discussed the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for social sciences, technology, healthcare, governance, and finance. The session was moderated by Dr. Puspa Dewi, M.Pd.
The first speaker, Diana Radikovna Bagdanova, Ph.D. from UFA University of Science and Technology (UUST), Russia, presented a paper entitled “Application of AI Technologies to Assess the Quality of Healthcare Services Based on Multidimensional Client Emotion Recognition.” She explained the use of AI to evaluate the quality of healthcare services through multidimensional analysis of client emotions, such as facial expressions, voice intonation, and behavioral responses, enabling more objective and comprehensive service evaluations.
The second speaker, Prof. Dr. Selvaraj Oyyaj Pillay, Vice President of Twintech International University College of Technology, Malaysia, delivered a presentation titled “The Great Convergence: Navigating the Intersection of Human Intelligence and AI Governance.” He emphasized the need for balance between human intelligence, ethics, and technological advancement in AI, particularly in governance, to ensure that AI utilization remains controlled and aligned with public interests.
Meanwhile, the third speaker, Prof. Dr. Glen Mangali, Vice President of Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC), Philippines, presented the topic “Social Science and Technology in the Age of Intelligent Systems: From Global Trends to Institutional Responsibility.” He highlighted the importance of institutional responsibility in the development and implementation of intelligent systems so that they generate positive impacts on social structures within society.
The fourth speaker was the Dean of the Faculty of Economics at UMPWR, Dr. Intan Puspitasari, S.E., M.Sc., who presented “Artificial Intelligence-Based Financial Risk Mitigation: An Adaptive Market Hypothesis Perspective.” She explained the use of AI as a financial risk mitigation tool through the Adaptive Market Hypothesis approach, which views financial markets as dynamic systems that continuously adapt to change.
ICSST 2026 was organized by the Bureau of Cooperation and International Affairs (KUI) of UMPWR as part of the university’s efforts to strengthen campus internationalization. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jeki Wibawanti, Head of KUI, stated that this international conference serves as a platform for the exchange of ideas, the strengthening of global academic networks, and the development of cross-country research collaborations.
Abdul Afif, M.Pd., Head of the Foreign Cooperation Division, added that the organization of ICSST at the beginning of 2026 reaffirms UMPWR’s commitment to actively participating in global discourse. Meanwhile, Galih Bagas Soesilo, S.H., LL.M., Head of the Domestic Cooperation Division, emphasized that the development of knowledge that is responsive to global challenges based on artificial intelligence is now increasingly essential.
