Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) is at the forefront of global sustainability research through its active participation in international collaborations that review comparative approaches and develop best practices for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The university leverages its SDGs Center to align with global partners in academia, government, and civil society, ensuring that local actions contribute to and align with international sustainability frameworks.
International Research Collaborations on SDG Strategies
UNNES regularly partners with global universities, UN agencies, and international NGOs to critically review and develop best practices for SDG implementation. For example, in June 2024, UNNES researchers participated in the International Sustainability Conference in Berlin, alongside academic leaders from Germany, Australia, and South Korea. The focus was on comparative analysis of SDG 13 (Climate Action) strategies across different higher education systems and national contexts.
- UNNES contributed research on campus-based climate change education, showcasing the Green Campus Initiative as a best practice in integrating SDG 13 into university operations and student curricula.
- The university also presented a detailed analysis on local climate action strategies, specifically through water conservation efforts initiated at the university and across Semarang City in collaboration with local governments. These approaches have been recognized for their potential to be scaled and replicated in other cities.
This partnership provided comparative data on how different universities contribute to SDG 13 through both teaching and practical action, contributing to a global pool of knowledge that helps to refine policies and approaches for climate resilience in higher education institutions.
International Best Practices for SDG Policy and Governance
UNNES’s engagement also extends to developing best practices for SDG governance, particularly through collaborations with international bodies such as the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). In December 2024, the university participated in the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) Global Forum in New York, which brought together over 600 delegates from 120 universities worldwide.
- At the forum, UNNES proposed best practices for integrating SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) into higher education curricula. The university presented findings from its own research, which show that incorporating SDG principles into core courses helps to foster long-term thinking about sustainability among students.
- A key recommendation included data-driven policymaking where academic research, student projects, and community outreach directly inform local, regional, and national SDG policies. This integrated approach has been adopted as a model for partnership between government, academia, and civil society, pushing for a more holistic approach to sustainability governance.
Collaborative Research on Localizing SDGs in Southeast Asia
In 2024, UNNES began a joint research project with Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University and the University of Melbourne to analyze SDG localization strategies in Southeast Asia. The project aims to:
- Compare regional variations in SDG implementation, specifically focusing on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) in urban and rural contexts.
- Develop shared policies and best practices for local governments to adopt sustainable water management systems, particularly in semi-arid regions of Indonesia and Thailand, where water conservation is critical.
By reviewing comparative approaches to water governance, the collaboration has resulted in the development of a comprehensive set of guidelines that promote community-based water management and reliable monitoring systems, which will be disseminated across ASEAN countries as part of the project’s final recommendations.
