UNS — The Graduate School of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta has formed a partnership with the Graduate Program of Universitas Mulawarman (Mulawarman University). This collaboration aims to enhance inter-university cooperation and improve the quality of Tri Dharma (education, research, and community service). Representatives from both universities formalized the partnership during a signing ceremony on Tuesday (15/4/2025). The ceremony took place at the Graduate Program Meeting Room of Universitas Mulawarman.
Dr. Salman Alfarisy Totalia, S.Pd., M.Si., Vice Dean for Non-Academic Affairs, led the delegation from the UNS Graduate School. The delegation included several senior academics, Prof. Dr. Prabang Setyono, M.Si. and Prof. Dr. Mohammad Masykuri, M.Si. There were also Dr. Agung Hidayat, S.Pd., M.Sc., and Bambang Jatmika, S.Sos.
Ir. Ndan Imang, M.P., Ph.D., Director of the Graduate Program, led the event representing Mulawarman University. Dr. Sri Wahyuningsih, S.Si., M.Si., Vice Director I, and Dr. Ir. Henny Pagoray, M.Si., Vice Director II, attended the event. Coordinators of the Master’s and Doctoral Environmental Science Programs and the Master’s Program in Regional Planning also attended.
Collaboration Aims to Enhance Institutional Capacity
Ir. Ndan Imang, M.P., Ph.D., expressed his excitement about the new partnership. He called it a strategic step to strengthen the capacity of both institutions. “We commit to collaborating in Tri Dharma and learning from UNS. We will prepare Mulawarman University to transition into a State Higher Education Institution with Legal Entity Status (PTNBH),” he stated.
Dr. Salman Alfarisy Totalia emphasized that this collaboration would build upon an already existing partnership. It opens new opportunities for intensive cooperation in education, research, and community service. “As a multidisciplinary institution, we believe this collaboration will produce tangible benefits both for the institutions and for regional development,” he added.
Focus on Environmental Research and Regional Development
Prof. Dr. Prabang Setyono noted that both UNS and Mulawarman University share a similar approach to managing multidisciplinary study programs. He highlighted their focus on Environmental Science. “This collaboration holds immense potential, especially in the context of strategic environmental studies. It focuses on areas such as the management of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN),” he remarked.
Following the partnership agreement, both universities conducted a field visit to the Integrated Waste Management Site (TPST) 1. The site lies in the Central Government Core Area (KIPP) of IKN, Sepaku District, Penajam Paser Utara Regency. The visit aimed to observe modern waste management practices that authorities implement in the IKN area. Okky Dwi Filianto, the Site Operational Manager at TPST 1, welcomed the UNS and Mulawarman University teams. He explained that the site, with a capacity of 74 tons per day, had completed construction and was now ready for operation. “IKN is designed to be a green city, embracing modern waste management practices,” Okky said.
This collaboration aligns with several pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- Pillar 4 (Quality Education): Enhancing education and collaborative research.
- Pillar 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Supporting environmental management practices.
- Pillar 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Promoting sustainable development in IKN.
- Pillar 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions): Strengthening academic institutional governance.
This strategic partnership aims to develop exceptional human resources, stimulate impactful research, and strengthen academic contributions to sustainable development. The focus will be on East Kalimantan as a national strategic area.
HUMAS UNS
