Day 1 – Ruang Sidang Utama Gedung Dekanat Lt.2 FEB UNDIP
Semarang, Indonesia – Prof. Prateep participated as the keynote speaker in the International Summer Course “Coastal Communities in Transition: Pathways from Vulnerability to Viability (V2V)”, held from 23–25 June 2026 in Semarang and Demak, Central Java, Indonesia. The program brought together participants from several countries across Asia and Africa, including Pakistan, Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia, and other East Asian countries. Conducted in a hybrid format, the three-day program combined academic discussions, field observations, and collaborative reflection to deepen participants’ understanding of coastal community resilience and sustainable development. Through interdisciplinary learning and international collaboration, the Summer Course contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
The program commenced on 23 June 2026 with an opening address by Prof. Prateep, who introduced the V2V Global Partnerships initiative and its flagship Southeast Asian Summer Course. He explained that the program aims to provide a dynamic learning platform addressing the critical challenges faced by coastal communities while fostering international collaboration among researchers, students, and practitioners. His session continued with a discussion on the purpose, goals, and structure of the V2V Global Project in Southeast Asia, followed by a lecture on the Key Concepts and Frameworks of the Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Approach.
The first day also featured insightful presentations from Prof. Ita Widowati, who discussed The Role of Women Fishers in Coastal Communities, and Prof. Munasik, who delivered a session on Sustaining Livelihoods, Food Security, and Coastal Resilience. The day concluded with interactive group discussions in which participants were divided into three thematic breakout groups focusing on fisheries, aquaculture pond, gender empowerment.
Day 2 – Desa Purworejo, Demak Regency, Central Java
On 24 June 2026, participants traveled to Demak Regency for field observations to gain firsthand experience of coastal community livelihoods. The activities began with a welcoming speech by the village head at the village hall, introducing participants to the local context before they dispersed into three observation groups.
The first group visited the small-scale fishing community, where Mr. Abdullah shared valuable insights into fishing activities, boat operations, fishermen’s safety and insurance, income sources, and the daily challenges faced by local fishers. Participants also boarded fishing boats to observe the coastal waters and better understand the environmental conditions affecting fishing activities.
The second observation focused on the Fish Landing Site (Tempat Pelelangan Ikan/TPI) and the local fish processing sector. Participants met Mr. Aldisa, Head of Port Operations and Harbor Master Services, who explained the impacts of tidal flooding (rob) on port operations, the responsibilities of the harbor authority, licensing requirements for fishermen, fisheries regulations, marine resource protection, and vessel inspection procedures. The group then visited a fish processing site managed by Ms. Rona, an anchovy producer, where participants observed the production of dried fish, learned about seasonal fish availability, operational challenges, and explored the community-based business model of the “Ayu Lestari” fish processing group.
The final observation site was the aquaculture community, where participants met Mr. Yazid, a local fish farmer. Through discussions and field observations, participants gained insights into pond management, aquaculture production systems, adaptation strategies, and the economic challenges faced by coastal aquaculture farmers.
The second day concluded with reflection sessions from each observation group. Prof. Prateep provided feedback and guided participants in synthesizing their field findings into presentations, videos, and written publications to be finalized on the following day.
Day 3 – Ruang Sidang Utama Gedung Dekanat Lt.2 FEB UNDIP
The final day, 25 June 2026, began with a comprehensive review of the previous two days’ activities. Participants organized photographs for the Photo of the Week, contributed materials to the V2V Commons, and finalized videos that would later be published on the official V2V Global Partnerships website and YouTube channel. Each group then delivered its final presentation, showcasing the results of field observations and thematic analyses while receiving constructive feedback from Prof. Prateep and the academic facilitators.
The Summer Course concluded with a collective reflection emphasizing that the transformation of coastal communities depends not only on physical adaptation but also on the strength of people, social relationships, and collective investment. Based on field observations in Purworejo Village, Demak, participants recognized how local communities continuously transform vulnerability into viability by investing in human, social, natural, physical, and financial capital, while strengthening resilience through adaptation, collaboration, and local knowledge. The presentations highlighted that sustainable coastal development is built upon the interconnectedness of well-being, capital, and resilience, demonstrating that meaningful transformation occurs when communities, academia, businesses, and government collaborate to create a more sustainable and hopeful future for coastal areas. By integrating education, scientific research, community engagement, and international partnerships, the Summer Course reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the SDGs and promoting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable coastal development across Southeast Asia and beyond.
