On 4 July 2025, Center for Southeast Asian Social Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (CESASS UGM) hosted Franklin Obeng-Odoom as a guest lecturer in the 2025 Summer Course on Smart City. Prof. Obeng-Odoom is an internationally recognized political economist whose research focuses on urban development, political economy, inequality, and global social justice, with significant contributions to debates on land, housing, and urban transformation. In his session titled Social-Political Aspects of Smart City, Digital Transformation, and Society in Southeast Asia, he provided critical insights into the governance dimensions of smart city initiatives and their broader implications for society in the region.