The Environmental Science Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), continues to take progressive steps in strengthening its contribution to sustainable development and quality education in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, the program successfully held an online Focus Group Discussion (FGD) via Zoom, focusing on aligning its scientific vision and curriculum with the evolving needs of the job market in preparation for the implementation of the UNNES Curriculum 2025, which adopts the Outcome-Impactful Based Learning framework.
This FGD reaffirmed the program’s strong alignment with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), as well as its contribution to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The initiative aims to ensure that environmental education at UNNES not only produces academically competent graduates but also individuals capable of driving sustainable solutions in society.
The discussion involved a diverse group of stakeholders—ranging from government agencies, environmental consultants, academics, NGOs, to alumni—ensuring a holistic perspective in the curriculum redesign. Key speakers included Dr. Mafut Munajat from the Central Java Provincial Office of Environment and Forestry (DLHK Jawa Tengah), Ir. Ratna Budiarti of PT Green Environesia Cendekia, Dr. Ir. Irdika Mansur from the Faculty of Forestry and Environment IPB University, Dr. Yoyon Wahyono, M.Ling from BRIN, and several practitioners and alumni from environmental industries and NGOs.
During the session, participants discussed graduates’ employability, identified competency gaps, and highlighted the importance of both soft and hard skills in today’s environmental sector. Emphasis was placed on enhancing critical thinking, systems thinking, communication, and academic writing—skills closely related to the demands of SDG 4 in ensuring inclusive and quality learning. Meanwhile, strengthening technical expertise in low-carbon development, climate resilience, circular economy, and triple planetary crisis mitigation reflects UNNES’s commitment to SDG 13 and SDG 12.
Another key insight from the FGD was the need to integrate foreign language proficiency and community-based environmental empowerment into the curriculum to prepare graduates for both global opportunities and local challenges. This aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), emphasizing collaboration between universities, industries, and communities in achieving sustainable outcomes.
The Environmental Science Study Program reaffirmed its scientific vision—to advance environmental science through research and community service rooted in natural resource conservation and sustainable empowerment in rural, coastal, and industrial areas. This vision aims to produce innovative, adaptive, and globally competitive graduates capable of addressing complex environmental challenges.
Through this FGD, the Environmental Science Program at FMIPA UNNES demonstrated its concrete commitment to transforming environmental education into a force that supports the realization of the UNNES Sustainable University vision and global SDG agenda. The Curriculum 2025 is not only designed to enhance academic excellence but also to ensure that every learning outcome contributes directly to measurable environmental and societal impacts—creating graduates who are ready to make meaningful contributions to building a more sustainable and equitable world.
