Embedding Sustainability in Education at Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP)

1. Policy Foundation and Strategic Commitment

The integration of sustainability in Universitas Diponegoro’s (UNDIP) education system is formally mandated through the Rector’s Circular Letter on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. /UN7.P/SE/2020.
This directive requires that all study programs embed SDG-related materials into their curriculum, research, and community service. Each faculty appoints an SDG focal point responsible for planning, implementation, and continuous monitoring.

Through this regulation, sustainability becomes a core element of institutional quality assurance. The policy ensures that teaching and learning processes build environmental literacy, ethical citizenship, and problem-solving skills aligned with the UN SDGs.

2. Integration of Sustainability in Curriculum

2.1 University-Wide Coverage

Sustainability has been deeply embedded across all levels of education at UNDIP. Out of 9,848 total courses offered, 9,722 (98.72%) incorporate sustainability-related themes such as climate action, renewable energy, circular economy, marine protection, and social inclusion.
Across 13 faculties, all 142 study programs—from undergraduate to doctoral—include SDG-based learning outcomes. Each curriculum is reviewed regularly to maintain relevance with national and global sustainability competencies.

2.2 Forms of Integration

Sustainability education is implemented through three interconnected mechanisms:

1. Mandatory Education – Core sustainability modules are included in the general education curriculum, ensuring that every student understands global sustainability challenges.
2. Program-Specific Content – Courses such as Sustainable Urban Planning, Environmental Economics, Marine Biodiversity Conservation, and Renewable Energy Systems embed sustainability principles within their disciplines.
3. Elective and Cross-Faculty Courses – Students may choose sustainability-focused electives, micro-credentials, and internships linked to climate resilience, waste management, or sustainable innovation.

3. Educator Capacity and Academic Support

UNDIP’s teaching and research excellence are driven by 1,902 lecturers and researchers across its faculties. The SDGs Center and Academic Quality Assurance Board regularly conduct workshops and seminars to strengthen the capacity of lecturers in integrating sustainability principles into course design and evaluation.

These programs encourage the use of interdisciplinary and problem-based learning approaches that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and community-based sustainability projects. Faculty champions lead curriculum renewal efforts to ensure that sustainability remains embedded across academic programs.

4. Co-Curricular and Student Engagement

Learning for sustainability at UNDIP extends beyond formal coursework through experiential and co-curricular initiatives designed to shape students into agents of change.

• KKN Tematik on SDG’s engages thousands of students in rural and coastal communities, implementing sustainability projects on waste management, renewable energy, and community resilience.
• Student Clubs mobilize students to design and implement eco-projects, monitor carbon footprints, and promote biodiversity on campus.
  Student Organizations in Diponegoro University 2025
  

  No	Name	Type Organization	Faculty
  1	Kelompok Studi Lingkungan	Study Club	Teknik
  2	Forum Studi Teknik	Study Club	Teknik
  3	KecebonK UNDIP	Study Club	Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan
  4	SEAWEED UNDIP	Study Club	Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan
  5	Karagenan UNDIP	Study Club	Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan
  6	REDDISH UNDIP	Study Club	Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan
  7	Marine Diving Club	Study Club	Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan
  8	Ikatan Pecinta Alam Lingkungan	Mapala	Teknik
  9	Mandara Undip	Mapala	Sekolah Vokasi
  10	Transpala UNDIP	Mapala	Sains dan Matematika
  11	Mapala SHERPA Geodesi	Mapala	Teknik
  12	MAPATEKSI	Mapala	Teknik
  13	MAFIAPALA	Mapala	Sains dan Matematika
  14	MALADICA	Mapala	Kedokteran
  15	Oxygen-16	Mapala	Teknik
  16	Fepala UNDIP	Mapala	Ekonomi Bisnis
  17	MATRAPALA	Mapala	Ilmu Budaya
  18	MAPEAGI	Mapala	Teknik
  19	KeSEMat	Study Club	Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan
  20	Kelompok Mahasiswa Wirausaha	Study Club	Ekonomi Bisnis
  21	KELOMPOK STUDI TERNAK PERAH	Study Club	Perternakan dan Pertanian
  22	GAIA Conversation	Study Club	Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan
  23	Kelompok Studi Pasar Modal	Study Club	Ekonomi Bisnis
  24	Wapeala	Mapala	Universitas Diponegoro
  25	KSEI	Study Club	Ekonomi Bisnis
  26	RnB (Research n Business)	Study Club	Universitas Diponegoro
  27	Society of Renewable Energy	Study Club	Universitas Diponegoro
  28	Kelompok Mahasiswa Peduli Lingkungan	Study Club	Sains dan Matematika
  29	Undip Debating Forum	Study Club	Universitas Diponegoro
  30	IAAS LC UNDIP	Study Club	Universitas Diponegoro
  31	KDKS FH UNDIP	Study Club	Hukum
  32	SPE UNDIP	Study Club	Universitas Diponegoro
  33	FARMASea UNDIP	Study Club	Perikanan dan Ilmu Kelautan

• Sustainability Talks and Public Lectures hosted by the SDGs Center bring together students, academics, government representatives, and practitioners to discuss global sustainability issues and local solutions.

Through these initiatives, sustainability becomes a lived experience and not only an academic subject.

5. Outreach and Lifelong Learning

5.1 Alumni Engagement

UNDIP’s alumni network supports sustainability learning through mentorship, professional development, and collaborative projects. Programs such as the Green Skills Accelerator and Sustainability Leadership Bootcamp allow alumni and professionals to continue advancing their sustainability expertise.

5.2 Community and Inclusive Education

UNDIP extends sustainability education to the wider community through outreach workshops, public education, and partnerships with villages and local governments.
These programs raise awareness on waste management, renewable energy, and environmental health, while empowering marginalized and coastal populations to pursue sustainable livelihoods.
Through this inclusive approach, UNDIP fulfills its mission of providing education for all and reducing inequalities in access to sustainability knowledge.

6. School of Sustainability (SoS)

The School of Sustainability, established under the SDGs Center UNDIP, serves as a dedicated hub for advancing education and training in sustainable development. It provides certificate programs, summer schools, and professional workshops for students, educators, and policymakers.

Key focus areas include:

• Poverty alleviation and social inclusion
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Gender equality and community empowerment
• Sustainable innovation and leadership

By linking academic research, teaching, and societal impact, the School of Sustainability reinforces UNDIP’s position as a regional leader in sustainability education.
🔗 https://sdgscenter.undip.ac.id/school-of-sustainability/

7. Quantitative Highlights 2024

8. Educational Outcomes and Impact

8.1 Academic Outcomes

• All UNDIP students graduate with sustainability literacy and cross-disciplinary awareness.
• Faculty collaboration has generated interdisciplinary courses such as Sustainable Urban Futures, Blue Carbon Economy, and Renewable Energy Systems.
• Sustainability values are embedded in academic assessment, emphasizing environmental ethics, civic engagement, and social innovation.

8.2 Social and Global Outcomes

• Student KKN projects directly contribute to local and regional SDG indicators, particularly on waste reduction, climate adaptation, and livelihood improvement.
• The School of Sustainability and SDGs Center serve as knowledge-sharing platforms for ASEAN and Asia-Pacific institutions seeking to integrate SDGs into higher education.
• UNDIP’s educational model has been showcased in international events such as the QS Higher Ed Summit and UCLG ASPAC forums as an example of best practice in sustainability-driven education.

9. Conclusion

Education for sustainable development at Universitas Diponegoro represents a holistic, inclusive, and institutionalized effort.
Through strong governance, nearly universal curriculum integration, capacity building for educators, co-curricular learning, and community outreach, UNDIP ensures that sustainability is both taught and practiced across all dimensions of education.

By embedding sustainability into 98.72% of its courses and establishing the School of Sustainability as a learning hub, UNDIP demonstrates how a university can transform education into a powerful driver for achieving the SDGs.
It stands as a model for higher education institutions striving to align teaching, research, and community engagement with the vision of a sustainable and equitable future.