05 June 2026
Threesna Sharfina
The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of Universitas Sumatera Utara (Universitas Sumatera Utara) through its Doctoral Program in Communication Studies participated as a co-host in the International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference 2026 Surakarta Hub, held in a hybrid format on June 4, 2026, at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Surakarta. This involvement reflects FISIP USU’s commitment to strengthening Indonesia’s academic contribution to the global development of communication studies.
With the global theme Communication and Inequalities in Context, the ICA Annual Conference 2026 Surakarta Hub highlighted the subtheme Beyond Importing Theory: Advancing Communication Knowledge from Indonesia. The conference served as a platform for academics, researchers, and practitioners to discuss contemporary communication issues by positioning Indonesia’s social, cultural, and media realities as sources of knowledge development in communication studies.
The event, conducted both onsite at the UNS Tower/UNS Inn Ballroom of Universitas Sebelas Maret and online via Zoom, involved several Indonesian universities as co-hosts, including Universitas Sumatera Utara, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Universitas Pancasila, LSPR Institute of Communication and Business, Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya, State Islamic University of Alauddin Makassar, and Universitas Muhammadiyah Papua. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening academic networks and Indonesia’s scholarly contribution at the global level.
The conference featured Prof. Noshir Contractor as the keynote speaker, along with several prominent Indonesian scholars in plenary sessions. Universitas Sumatera Utara was represented by Prof. Dr. Iskandar Zulkarnain, M.Si., who presented a study on the political economy of the podcast ecosystem in Indonesia. His presentation highlighted inequalities within digital spaces and emphasized the importance of incorporating local perspectives in communication studies amid the dominance of global digital platforms.
In addition to plenary sessions, the conference also included research presentations through parallel call for papers sessions that brought together researchers from various institutions. This forum served as a space for exchanging ideas, fostering academic collaboration, and discussing communication challenges amid ongoing social change and digital transformation.
FISIP Universitas Sumatera Utara’s participation in the ICA Annual Conference 2026 Surakarta Hub reinforces the faculty’s commitment to supporting the internationalization of higher education, expanding global academic networks, and enhancing scholarly contributions in communication studies that remain relevant to contemporary societal needs and dynamics.
Author: Tabitha R. Simbolon
USU Conducts Data Collection for Prospective New Students Affected by Changes in DTSEN Status
NewsThe Faculty of Social and Political Sciences of Universitas Sumatera Utara Participates in ICA Annual Conference 2026 Surakarta Hub
NewsFISIP USU Strengthens International Cooperation through a Free Yoga Class in Collaboration with the Consulate General of India in Medan
