UNS — Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta International Youth Initiatives Competition (IYIC) 2021 Awards held a webinar on ‘The Role of Youth in Facing the Global Pandemic and Assisting the SDGs’ on Thursday (25/11/2021). The webinar was held online through the Zoom Cloud Meeting application and live-streamed on the International Office UNS YouTube channel. The IYIC 2021 Awards Webinar invited four speakers: Nidal Benali, ICESCO Youth Peace Ambassador, Carolina P. Ariza, Co-lead World Food Forum Innovative Labs, and Pandu Purwandaru, Ph.D., and Dimas Rahardian AM, Ph.D., faculty members and coordinator at UNS International Office.
The webinar was also attended by the Vice-Rector for Planning, Partnership, Business, and Information Affairs UNS, Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Sajidan, M.Si., Mayor of Surakarta, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Dr. Ir. Apik Karyana, the Chief of Planning Bureau Ministry of Environment and Forestry, who represented Alue Dohong, Ph.D.
The webinar was opened by an opening remark from Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who encouraged the young generation to be actively involved in sustainable development, especially university students who have a crucial role in the acceleration of development in various sectors. “Let’s unite our determination, young generation, for the future,” he stated.
In line with the Mayor of Surakarta, Prof. Sajidan also stated that the young generation has a vital role in facing the issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially through sustainable development. The young generation’s role in solving pandemic-related issues and climate change issues also became a topic of speech in the United Nations General Assembly by Korean musicians.
“The World is expecting many initiatives from young people as we are looking forward to improving human life and the natural world by 2030 through Sustainable Development Goals,” Prof. Sajidan stated.
The webinar continued with a material presentation on the objectives of sustainable development in Indonesia by Dr. Ir. Apik Karyana and the role of Higher Education in achieving SDGs Program by Pandu Purwandaru, Ph.D., in his ‘Educational Institution Engagement in SDGs Program’ presentation.
Carolina P. Ariza shared a different perspective and shared the young generation’s participation in the agri-food sector, especially in creating food innovation for a better future. Through this webinar, the collaboration between UNS and its stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Environment and Forestry RI, Surakarta Municipal Government, and the United Nations, could speed up the implementation of SDGs. Humas UNS
Reporter: Alinda Hardiantoro
Editor: Dwi Hastuti