Bandung, July 2, 2025 — The Doctoral Program in Civic Education (PPKn), Faculty of Social Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), proudly conferred a new doctoral graduate through an open doctoral promotion session held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the 6th Floor Auditorium of FPIPS UPI.
Erwin Susanto, M.Pd., successfully defended his dissertation titled “Development of Indonesian Netizens’ Digital Civility through the Smart Citizen Application from the Perspective of Citizenship Education” before a panel of esteemed examiners. The dissertation critically examines the urgency of promoting digital civility as a fundamental component of citizenship education in the digital age.
In his presentation, Erwin introduced the Smart Citizen application, developed as part of his research. This application serves as an educational tool designed to enhance digital civic literacy, particularly among younger generations. The app integrates principles of civic engagement, ethical digital communication, and democratic values into an accessible platform.
The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Cecep Darmawan, S.H., S.IP., S.AP., S.Pd., M.Si., M.H., CPM., and featured a distinguished board of examiners including:
- Prof. Dr. Dasim Budimanasyah, M.Si.
- Prof. Dr. Kokom Komalasari, M.Pd.
- Dr. Iim Siti Masyitoh, M.Si.
- Dr. Syafullah, M.Si.
- Dr. Muhammad Mona Adha, S.Pd., M.Pd.
In his remarks, Prof. Cecep Darmawan praised the academic contribution of the dissertation, emphasizing the importance of adaptive civic education models in addressing digital era challenges. “What Mr. Erwin has presented is not only a technological innovation but also a critical reflection on fostering ethical awareness in digital spaces as an essential trait of responsible citizenship,” he stated.
This doctoral promotion event reaffirms the commitment of UPI’s Doctoral Program in Civic Education to nurturing scholars and educators who excel academically and provide concrete solutions to national civic challenges, particularly in advancing civic education in the digital era.
With this achievement, Erwin Susanto officially earns the title of Doctor in Civic Education and is expected to continue contributing innovative and impactful educational solutions for Indonesian society.