Semarang – The Doctoral Program in Social Studies Education (Pendidikan Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial/PIPS), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), held a Doctoral Dissertation Defense on Monday, August 3, 2026. On this occasion, Suprihatiningsih, a member of the 2023 cohort in the Doctoral Program of Social Studies Education, successfully defended her dissertation entitled “The Internalization of Javanese Moral Values from Serat Wulangreh among Adolescents as an Approach to Addressing Deviant Behavior in the Bandengan Coastal Fishing Community, Kendal.” She completed her doctoral studies with an outstanding Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.00. The official faculty decree also confirms the dissertation title and the appointment of the examination committee.
The doctoral dissertation defense represents the highest academic milestone in a doctoral program, serving as a formal forum in which candidates present and defend the originality, rigor, and scholarly contributions of their research before a panel of distinguished examiners. During the examination, the candidate demonstrated the theoretical foundations, research findings, and practical implications of her study while responding to critical questions from senior academics in the field of Social Studies Education.
Suprihatiningsih’s dissertation examines the internalization of Javanese moral values embedded in Serat Wulangreh as a character education approach to addressing juvenile delinquency among adolescents in the coastal fishing community of Bandengan, Kendal Regency. The study argues that the ethical teachings contained in this classical Javanese literary work remain highly relevant for strengthening adolescents’ moral character amid the rapid social changes and complex challenges faced by today’s younger generation.
Throughout the research process, Suprihatiningsih received academic supervision from Prof. Dr. Tri Marhaeni Pudji Astuti, M.Hum. as the Promotor, with Dr. Agustinus Sugeng Priyanto, M.Si. and Dr. Sunarto, S.H., M.Si. serving as Co-promotors. Their guidance encompassed every stage of the dissertation, from proposal development and field research to data analysis and manuscript refinement, ensuring that the study made significant academic and practical contributions to the advancement of Social Studies Education grounded in local cultural values.
Through this research, Suprihatiningsih emphasizes that character education should not rely solely on formal school curricula but can also be strengthened through the revitalization of local wisdom preserved within communities. The moral teachings of Serat Wulangreh provide valuable guidance for cultivating discipline, responsibility, ethical conduct, and self-control among adolescents, thereby contributing to the prevention of deviant behavior.
This academic achievement reflects the commitment of the Doctoral Program in Social Studies Education at FISIP UNNES to producing scholars capable of offering research-based solutions to pressing social issues. By integrating local cultural wisdom with contemporary educational perspectives, the dissertation is expected to serve as an important reference for policymakers, educators, and researchers in developing character education models tailored to communities with distinctive social and cultural contexts.
The successful completion of this doctoral defense also demonstrates the strategic role of higher education institutions in promoting research excellence and generating innovative solutions to societal challenges. By encouraging studies that explore indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage as educational resources, FISIP UNNES continues to foster impactful academic innovations that benefit both the scholarly community and society at large.
This achievement is closely aligned with Universitas Negeri Semarang’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The dissertation contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting character education rooted in local cultural values and strengthening educational innovation. It also supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by encouraging the development of ethical, responsible, and socially conscious young citizens capable of reducing deviant behavior. Furthermore, by preserving and utilizing the moral teachings of Serat Wulangreh as an educational resource, the research advances SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through the safeguarding and revitalization of cultural heritage as a foundation for sustainable community development.
