A total of 48 international students from 12 countries participated in the opening ceremony of the UNNES Summer Camp Batch 2 “Go Green, Live Local” 2025, held at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) on Wednesday (October 22).
This program is supported by funding from the EQUITY Program, as part of UNNES’s efforts to strengthen international cooperation in education and community empowerment, aligned with SDG 4: Quality Education.
Participants came from partner universities across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Pacific, including VIA College Denmark, Fujian University China, NEUST University and Mindanao State University Philippines, as well as students from the BIPA (Indonesian Language for Foreigners) Program representing Egypt, Thailand, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Zimbabwe.
In addition, the program also welcomed students from Yemen, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sudan, South Sudan, Vietnam, Mozambique, and South Korea.
The opening ceremony took place at the UNNES Rectorate Building and was attended by the University Secretary, Vice Dean for Student Affairs of the Faculty of Engineering (FT), and Vice Dean for Student Affairs of the Faculty of Sports Science (FIK).
In his remarks, UNNES Vice Rector for Collaboration, Business, and International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Nur Qudus, M.T., IPM., stated that the summer camp serves as a global learning platform that integrates education, culture, and environmental conservation.
“Through this program, we introduce Indonesian culture and conservation values through UNNES’s community development villages. International students not only learn language and arts, but also live alongside local residents to understand local wisdom,” he explained.
Prof. Nur Qudus further emphasized that the program is also part of UNNES’s strategy to expand global partnerships in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This summer camp reinforces UNNES’s contribution to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through international collaboration and field-based environmental activities, UNNES continues to enhance its academic reputation and social impact at the global level,” he added.
Meanwhile, Head of the Office of International Affairs (KUI) and SDGs UNNES, Alfath Yanuarto, S.Kom., explained that the program offers international students opportunities to engage directly in conservation and local cultural learning.
“Throughout the program, participants will gain experiential learning through educational and eco-tourism activities. They will interact with the community in Kandri Village, explore Goa Kreo, and plant mangroves in Tapak Tugurejo,” he said.
Following the opening ceremony, participants joined fun games featuring traditional Indonesian games such as bakiak and enggrang, designed to foster camaraderie and introduce the spirit of togetherness in Indonesian culture.
The UNNES Summer Camp Batch 2 will take place over three days, from October 22 to 24, 2025. The first day includes the opening and interactive campus sessions, followed by cultural and conservation activities in Kandri Tourism Village, a Semarang city exploration, and mangrove planting in Tapak Tugurejo.
Through this program, UNNES strengthens its position as a globally engaged university actively supporting the achievement of the SDGs through global partnerships, intercultural learning, and conservation-based community empowerment.