Vol. 17 No. 2 (2025)

This study aims to analyze the effect of the quality of licensing services on increasing regional investment in the Public Service Mall (MPP) of Pekanbaru City. The study used mixed methods of the Explanatory Sequential method. Researchers distributed questionnaires to 384 respondents who used the Business Identification Number (NIB) service, followed by interviews with several business actors regarding their interest in investing, seen from the quality of licensing services in Pekanbaru City. Quantitative data were analyzed through validity and reliability tests, linear regression, and t-tests, resulting in a significant positive effect with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.955 and a determination (R²) of 91.1%. Qualitative findings confirm that users positively assess tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. The qualitative approach also reveals that the integration of the OSS and regional innovations improves access to investment facilities. These results indicate that improvements in licensing services directly encourage investment realization, creating a more conducive and competitive regional investment climate.

This study analyzes the role of Women legislators of Commission II local legislative in Pasuruan city in promoting the empowerment of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME). Using a qualitative case study approach and guided by the Actor Network Theory (ANT), this research highlights structural constraints and weak interconnections among policy actors. Data was collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. Findings show that women legislators often play symbolic roles due to male-dominated power structures, limited institutional support from political parties, and minimal access to strategic forums involving local technical agencies (OPD) and MSME communities. While their advocacy style tends to be empathetic and community-based, it remains disconnected from formal decision-making processes. ANT analysis demonstrates that women legislators have not yet become strategic nodes within the policy network. To shift from symbolic to substantive representation, it is essential to enhance their political capacity, improve institutional support, and strengthen inter-actor collaboration. These efforts will contribute to more inclusive and gender-responsive MSME policies.

The Kayutangan area in Malang City holds historical, socio-cultural, and economic value, recognized as a heritage district with unique appeal. However, the excessive modernization of the area, primarily driven by the private sector, has begun to erode the existence of heritage buildings and local values, posing a significant challenge to heritage preservation. In response, the Malang City Government has implemented policies focusing on preservation and development, including slum area reduction, infrastructure revitalization, and local tourism growth. Despite these efforts, gaps remain in managing the sustainability of heritage values in the face of modernizing pressures. This study explores the implementation of the Kayutangan Heritage Area development policy through Grindle (2017) policy implementation framework, focusing on policy content and outcomes. A qualitative descriptive approach was used, including semi-structured interviews, observations, and documentation. Data was analyzed using qualitative coding, involving collection, categorization, and conclusion drawing. The study found that while the policy has led to positive impacts such as slum reduction, improved infrastructure, increased MSMEs, higher tourist visits, and historical preservation, challenges to sustainability emerged. These include modernization misaligned with the heritage theme and a lack of clear regulations on visual design, which undermine the area’s heritage branding. The absence of dedicated management authority and weak coordination among local government agencies also hinder effective intervention. The study recommends strengthening regulations by establishing a dedicated heritage area management authority and expanding the policy’s impact to ensure long-term development sustainability and a more equitable distribution of benefits.

Indonesia has a high prevalence of smoking, which adversely affects public health, particularly children and pregnant women. Exposure to secondhand smoke is a significant risk factor for stunting among toddlers. This study evaluates the implementation of the Smoke-Free Area (SFA) policy in Malang City as a strategy to reduce smoke exposure and prevent stunting. A qualitative descriptive approach using Grindle’s policy implementation theory was employed to assess the roles of government, society, and the private sector. The findings indicate that while the SFA policy has been adopted across public and private sectors, enforcement effectiveness and household compliance remain low. Cultural factors, limited resources, and weak coordination pose significant challenges. Nevertheless, the stunting prevalence decreased from 25.7% in 2021 to 17.3% in 2023, suggesting that the policy has had a positive impact. Strengthening resources, education, and law enforcement is essential to enhance the policy’s effectiveness in preventing stunting.

Equal access to education is part of fulfilling the rights of citizens, both within the country and abroad. The government, through the Ministry of Education, repatriates the children of migrant workers to obtain the right to study in Indonesia through partner schools of the Ministry of Education and Culture. This study analyzes repatriation as an educational alternative for the children of Indonesian migrant workers. Lack of documentation is a problem for them regarding administrative requirements, especially in education. Data was collected through observation and interviews with repatriates. Data collection was considered easy because the researcher was directly involved in the daily activities of the repatriates. Field findings indicate that their current course of study helps with their education and living expenses. Despite language difficulties, they feel comfortable because a representative educational environment supports them. Their adaptation is also fast because there are several similarities between Blitar and their origins while abroad. The purpose of repatriation in the field of education is none other than educational equality. Collaborative support from the government (Ministry of Education) and the person responsible for repatriation in Blitar makes repatriates feel at ease pursuing education in Indonesia. The learning environment influences the latent pattern of nationalist character formation for repatriates. Many factors shape the social resilience of repatriates.

Land border management between the Republic of Indonesia (RI) and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (RDTL) is hindered by structural fragmentation, resulting in a dichotomy between security and welfare approaches. Although policy has shifted from a hard border approach to a soft border, its implementation is still dominated by the sectoral egos of security and development institutions. This situation results in grandiose infrastructure development, often masking underlying problems such as poverty and low institutional capacity. This study uses a qualitative approach with policy document analysis and semi-structured interviews in Belu Regency. This article aims to criticize the weaknesses of the existing dual governance model and propose a more effective integrated solution. Using the theoretical framework of the Penta-Helix Model, this study analyzes the roles of the Government, Academics, Business Actors, Communities, and the Media. The results show that the participation of non-state actors remains peripheral and uninstitutionalized. As a key contribution, this article proposes an Integrated Border Governance Model (IBGM). This model rejects the concept of dual Centers of Gravity and instead proposes the establishment of a co-chaired Governance Council for consensus-based decision-making. The IBGM model offers a path to achieving national security through a synergy between sovereignty and welfare, transforming the border from a dividing line to a bridge of shared prosperity and security.

Inclusive and sustainable economic development is a very important and relevant approach to be applied in various regions in Indonesia, including in areas that are in the process of becoming new autonomous regions, namely North Sukabumi Regency. This approach aims to create economic growth that not only encourages increased income but also ensures that the benefits are felt by all levels of society, including marginalized groups, while maintaining ecosystem balance and creating a better future generation. This study analyzes potential economic leading sectors to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development. The selection of leading sectors was carried out using the Promethee method, which is an outranking-based multi-criteria analysis (MCA) method based on a preference index. A total of 12 criteria were used, and data were obtained through questionnaires from several experts. The results of this study indicate that the development of the Food Crops, Horticulture, and Food and Beverage Industries subsectors is a potential sector recommended for promoting inclusive and sustainable economic development.

Digital transformation and public facilities in city governance have become basic needs amidst the increasing complexity of public services and public demands for fast, transparent, and affordable services. Surakarta City, as a cultural city in the process of becoming a smart city, faces challenges in streamlining bureaucracy, improving residents' quality of life, and optimizing the use of real-time data. This study aims to identify and formulate a strategy for the Surakarta Smart City concept that focuses on the dimensions of smart governance, smart living, and smart society. The approach used integrates big data-based information technology and real-time technology. The research method uses literature studies from Scopus, Google Scholar, and Sinta. The research result showed that the current digital transformation in Surakarta has not optimally improved public services or access to information, nor has it accelerated responses to field conditions. The researchers recommend developing an integrative dashboard across sectors. Concretely, the smart city concept in Surakarta can be strengthened by: (1) the concept of adding public facilities such as the provision of public Wi-Fi in strategic city spaces, (2) optimizing the development of digital health services, (3) developing online-based population administration that can be accessed in real-time and responsively, and (4) implementing a real-time city monitoring system through the integration of CCTV and big data. These initiatives are considered capable of improving accessibility and quality of life and accelerating data-based decision-making. This research confirms that the success of a Smart City rests not only on technology, but also on collaborative governance, adaptive regulations, and community social readiness. Surakarta has great potential to become a model for a smart city based on culture and sustainable citizen participation.

The implementation of the Electronic-Based Government System (SPBE) in Indonesia has largely been perceived as an administrative compliance mechanism aligned with national policies and index-based assessments. Conceptually, however, SPBE is intended as an instrument for transforming governmental governance toward an integrated, effective, and accountable digital government. This study aims to analyze the implementation of SPBE in East Kalimantan Province by positioning it as a digital governance transformation process rather than merely an administrative obligation. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through policy document analysis, SPBE performance reports, and interviews with key stakeholders within the East Kalimantan Provincial Government. Data were analyzed using a descriptive-analytical method by linking empirical findings to the digital government transformation framework. The findings indicate that SPBE implementation in East Kalimantan Province remains largely compliance-driven, as reflected in institutional fragmentation, limited system and data integration, and uneven human resource capacities across government agencies. Nevertheless, the study also identifies opportunities to strengthen digital governance transformation through reinforcing SPBE institutional governance, enhancing civil servants’ digital competencies, and promoting cross-system and service integration. This study underscores the need to shift the paradigm from administrative compliance toward substantive digital governance transformation at the provincial government level.

Risk management in local government is increasingly positioned as a strategic instrument for strengthening governance, integrity, and the quality of public decision-making. However, various studies show that increased regulation and maturity of risk management systems do not always translate into substantive improvements in governance and behavioral risk control. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of risk management policies in the East Kalimantan Provincial Government by examining the suitability of policy design, variations in implementation across regional institutions, and their impact on governance and government integrity. The study uses a qualitative, descriptive, evaluative approach through case studies of four strategic regional institutions. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, limited participant observation, and document analysis. Data was analyzed using an interactive model. The results of this study indicate that the risk management policy in the East Kalimantan Provincial Government is normatively aligned with international standards and has successfully increased the maturity of the internal control system. However, the policy's effectiveness still varies across regional agencies and has not fully strengthened integrity, as reflected in the paradox between increasing system maturity and decreasing corruption control effectiveness. This finding confirms that risk management has not been fully internalized as a culture and strategic decision-making instrument. In conclusion, strengthening risk management requires a shift from an administrative compliance approach to a reflective, integrated policy-learning approach. It is also recommended that policies be more directed at strengthening risk leadership, the role of the Inspectorate as a risk enabler, integrating risk into planning and budgeting, and developing a risk-aware culture, particularly across regional agencies within the East Kalimantan Provincial Government.

Stunting in toddlers is a significant nutritional issue that may negatively impact the quality of Indonesia’s future human resources. This study aims to analyze the spatial patterns of stunting prevalence in toddlers in Indonesia as a basis for developing region-based policy interventions. A quantitative approach was used through spatial autocorrelation analysis using Moran’s I Index and Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation (LISA), which is based on the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) method. Stunting prevalence data were obtained from 514 districts/cities in Indonesia and analyzed to detect clustering patterns in high-risk areas. The results showed a Moran’s I of 0.315 (P-value <), indicating positive spatial autocorrelation among regions. Also, these results indicate that areas with high stunting prevalence tend to be geographically clustered, particularly in areas outside Java, such as Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua. The results of this study emphasize the importance of a region-based approach to stunting management that accounts for spatial factors. High-high cluster areas are highly vulnerable to stunting, as indicated by low nutrition coverage, access to sanitation, and protein consumption, as well as high poverty rates. This situation highlights the importance of more focused and effective policy interventions that include improving nutrition, increasing access to food and sanitation, health education, and strengthening welfare and education aspects.

The Pekanbaru City Population and Civil Registration Office adopts e-government through the Layanan Tunggu (Lagu) application to take care of lost, damaged, and urgent e-IDs. In practice, the Lagu application has not delivered good performance, as evidenced by the community satisfaction index, which consistently declined from 2021 to 2024. This study aims to analyse the performance and maturity of the Lagu application using the five dimensions of the balanced e-government scorecard and the stages of Darrell M. West's e-government maturity model. The approach to this research is a qualitative descriptive design, using both primary and secondary data. The analysis technique of this study uses an interactive model by Miles, Huberman, and Saldana. The results of this study reveal that three of the five dimensions have not been operating optimally. Because iOS users can’t access the service, the removal of the urgent e-ID printing feature, the service of less friendly officers at the counter, the termination of the cooperation agreement with the Grab company, and the passive maintenance and development management of the application. In addition, the Lagu application, which experienced pseudo-maturity in the second stage, is another reason the public satisfaction index has consistently decreased. This research is limited to the object of research, namely the Lagu application, and does not include program recommendations. Therefore, the next research should examine collaborative governance and provide program recommendations based on the results.

The rapid proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) has fundamentally disrupted the landscape of global scientific publishing and public administration research. This disruption presents a problem characterized by the dichotomy between AI as an essential academic productivity catalyst and a significant threat to scientific integrity. This study addresses three specific research questions: (1) the operational efficacy and ethical risks of AI in scientific writing, (2) the evolution of editorial policies, and (3) the formulation of adaptive AI governance in decentralized public administration. The objective of the research is to critically analyze the transformation of scientific publications, identify emerging ethical and methodological risks, and develop an adaptive conceptual framework for AI governance. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the data collection technique involves Library Research by extracting and systematically synthesizing 101 contemporary high-impact literature (2018–2025) indexed in Scopus Q1 and Web of Science. The data analysis technique utilizes thematic analysis to map cross-disciplinary literature patterns, while data interpretation is operationalized through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and cross-validity triangulation of institutional policies. Results and discussions reveal that AI significantly bridges cross-cultural linguistic barriers and accelerates productivity. However, the research findings confirm that AI simultaneously introduces unprecedented epistemic risks (algorithmic hallucinations), ethical biases, and legal accountability voids regarding authorship and peer-review evaluations. This study provides scientific novelty by reconstructing this paradigm and proposing the Human-AI Cognitive Synergy framework. It is concluded that there is an urgent need for adaptive AI governance within public institutions to regulate machine-assisted research without stifling innovation. Therefore, the study offers actionable recommendations emphasizing critical human oversight (human-in-the-loop validation), transparent disclosure policies, and sectoral regulatory audits for researchers, academic publishers, and government policy strategists to safeguard scientific integrity.

This study explores the dynamics of digital democracy in Sinjai Regency by examining the factors that shape public participation, particularly access to information, digital literacy, and technological infrastructure. This study used a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach; data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and documentation involving citizens, youth, government officials, and local digital media practitioners. The findings reveal five dominant factors influencing digital democracy: (1) limited and unequal internet access across regions, particularly in rural areas; (2) low digital literacy which reduces the ability of citizens to filter accurate political information; (3) the strong role of young people as digital actors in political engagement; (4) government digital initiatives-though available-remain underutilized due to limited public capability and uneven dissemination; and (5) local digital media serving as an important intermediary in delivering political information. These factors collectively contribute to the low level of digital participation in Sinjai. The study proposes several solutions, including expanding internet infrastructure through cross-sector collaboration, strengthening community-based digital literacy training, enhancing government digital services, and establishing an independent body to oversee digital democracy implementation. The results highlight the need for inclusive policies that consider geographical and socio-economic disparities. This research contributes novelty by focusing on digital democracy gaps at the local scale and emphasizing community capacity as a key determinant in achieving inclusive digital participation.