Lecturers from Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Dr. Andi Irwan Benardi, S.Pd., M.Pd. (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences); Drs. Saptono Putro, M.Si. (Faculty of Social and Political Sciences); and Dr. Nanik Sri Utaminingsih, S.E., M.Si. (Faculty of Economics and Business), together with students affiliated with the Geography Student Association (HIMA Geografi) and UKMP, have successfully secured funding through the 2026 Mahasiswa Berdampak–Aksara Peduli Program.
The program, entitled “Strengthening the Green Economy and Disaster Preparedness through Community Collaboration in Ketep Village Based on Composting Technology and Digital Evacuation Routes,” focuses on strengthening the green economy and will run for one year, from October 2026 to September 2027.
The initiative involves 20 students from various study programs at UNNES: Marizka Dwi Cahyani, Slamet Nurbasith, Danu Setyawan, Anifatun Ni’mah Ro’ah, Khoirul Anam, Rino Naufaldi Nafis, Faoza Alodya Valensi, Muhamad Ihsanul Farizqi, Mufti Falah Desmafitano, Faishal Kafi, Ayunismara Prastyana Sani, Triyanto Darma Putra, Yassirli Amri, Sihab Alhabzi, M. Raihanul Fikri, Muhammad Dwi Utomo Aji, Ahmad Deliansyah, Rizki Adhari, Fandi Aolia, and Navisa Febrianasari. The participation of students from diverse academic backgrounds is an essential element in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address community needs through practical solutions.
Through this program, the team aims to strengthen the green economy while improving the preparedness of the people of Ketep Village to face disaster risks. Planned activities include implementing technology to convert organic waste into compost using Gemi Lestari, providing assistance to women farmers’ groups, and developing a digital evacuation route system based on WebGIS and QR codes. These activities are designed to integrate environmental management, community economic empowerment, and the use of technology to support disaster mitigation.
Students will also play an active role throughout the program, from regional mapping and spatial data processing to community assistance, group administration and economic management, disaster mitigation education, and evacuation simulations. The distribution of responsibilities according to each student’s area of expertise is expected to strengthen program implementation while facilitating the transfer of knowledge and skills to the local community. Thus, the initiative goes beyond the application of technological innovations by also seeking to enhance residents’ capacity to manage local resources and respond to disaster risks more independently.
Securing funding through the 2026 Mahasiswa Berdampak–Aksara Peduli Program demonstrates the synergy among lecturers, HIMA Geografi, UKMP, and students from various disciplines in developing practical innovations that address community needs. This collaboration also provides students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge directly in the field while strengthening the university’s role in promoting sustainable community development.
From the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the program is relevant to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, through the conversion of organic waste into compost and the promotion of more sustainable resource management practices. Assistance for women farmers’ groups and the development of a green economy also support SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, particularly by strengthening community groups’ capacity to develop environmentally responsible economic activities.
The development of digital evacuation routes based on WebGIS and QR codes, together with disaster mitigation education and evacuation simulations, also contributes to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, particularly by helping communities become more resilient to disaster risks. Meanwhile, the involvement of lecturers, students, student organizations, and local communities reflects the spirit of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which emphasizes the importance of cross-sector collaboration in achieving sustainable development outcomes.
Through this integrated approach, the program in Ketep Village is expected to serve as a practical initiative that brings together technological innovation, community empowerment, environmental conservation, and improved disaster preparedness. By combining academic expertise with community participation, the initiative aims to contribute to more sustainable economic development and strengthen local resilience in the face of environmental and disaster-related challenges.
