The Geography Study Program of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang (FISIP UNNES), in collaboration with National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), successfully organized an international seminar titled “Dinamika Bentang Lahan dan Tantangan Manajemen Banjir Perkotaan” on Friday, June 13, 2025, at 1:00 PM WIB. Held in the C7 Building Auditorium, 3rd Floor, FISIP UNNES, the seminar exemplified international academic collaboration in addressing increasingly complex urban environmental issues, particularly flood governance in urban areas.
The seminar was officially opened by Dr.scient.med. Fadly Husain, M.Si., Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of FISIP UNNES. The event featured two distinguished speakers: Prof. Mucahid Mustafa Bayrak, Ph.D. from NTNU and Prof. Dr. Erni Suharini, M.Si., both of whom delivered in-depth presentations on landscape change, climate crisis, and urban flood disaster mitigation strategies.
In addition to the main sessions, the seminar also included student presentations showcasing the findings from their field research conducted the previous day in Tambakrejo Village, Semarang. This segment highlighted the seminar’s experiential learning approach, enhancing interdisciplinary understanding and fostering collaborative solutions to urban geographic challenges in the era of global climate change.
In his keynote address, Prof. Mucahid Mustafa Bayrak, Ph.D. discussed global sustainability challenges, emphasizing how Taiwan serves as a model for translating sustainability research into real-world action. Beginning with the core definition of sustainable development, meeting current needs without compromising the future, his presentation critiqued development paradigms focused solely on economic growth.
A key issue he addressed was the imbalance in trade-offs among social, environmental, and economic dimensions. He also highlighted the need for profound structural changes within the modern capitalist system, which he identified as a root cause of today’s ecological and social crises.
Taiwan was presented as a pivotal case study due to its recognition of Indigenous rights, commitment to renewable energy, and support for grassroots movements. Uniquely positioned in East Asia, Taiwan offers democratic space and academic freedom to explore locally grounded sustainable development practices. The Indigenous approach to the environment, holistic and interwoven with spiritual, cultural, and social values, was proposed as an alternative to Western development models that are currently under strain. The presentation called for not merely “managing” the environment, but fundamentally rethinking our perspectives and societal systems to ensure a more just and sustainable future.
This event strongly aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By addressing issues such as flood management, landscape transformation, and community roles in climate adaptation, the seminar fostered transnational and interdisciplinary dialogue to develop sustainable solutions for future urban environments.
Such academic collaborations reflect UNNES’s ongoing commitment to contributing to global challenges through education, research, and international partnerships.
