Semarang, September 10, 2025 — The Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Diponegoro University (Undip), held the 2025 International Community Engagement program entitled “International Community Development on Waste Management.” This activity focused on strengthening community capacity in sustainable waste management through 3R education (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), source separation, organic waste processing (compost/maggot), strengthening waste bank institutions, and responsible consumption campaigns. The event was conducted at UPT K3L (Occupational Health, Safety, and Environment) Undip, Tembalang campus.

The program was led by Prof. Dr. Dra. Hartuti Purnaweni, MPA, Head of KBK Governansi Publik of the Public Administration Department, FISIP UNDIP, with team members Dr. Amni Zarkasyi Rahman, S.AP., M.Si.; Dra. Maesaroh, M.Si.; Junjung Sahala Tua Manik, S.Sos., M.A.P.; Nilam Adini Rakhma, M.A.P.; and Azaria Eda Pradana, S.AP., M.A.P. The event featured Prof. Alex B. Brillantes, Jr., Professor from the University of the Philippines, who shared waste management practices in the Philippines and community participation in these initiatives. From K3L Undip, Mr. Cahyo presented waste management practices at Undip, and Prof. Ir. Didi Dwi Anggoro, M.Eng., Ph.D., IPU, ASEAN Eng., from the Chemical Engineering Department, demonstrated his machine for converting plastic waste residues into fuel using pyrolysis.

This collaboration allowed both countries to exchange ideas and learn from each other regarding the university’s role in enhancing community welfare in general and the university environment in particular, achieving a cleaner and healthier living environment.

Also present were the Head of the Undergraduate Public Administration Program, Retna Hanani, S.Sos, MPP; Head of the Master of Public Administration Program, Dr. Dra. Augustin Rina Herawati, M.Si.; and Acting Head of the Doctoral Public Administration Program, Ika Riswanti Putranti, Ph.D.

Student participation was a vital part of the activity, including students from the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) in Public Administration: Kayla Humaira Azzahra, Ainna Hasna Fadillah, Lintang Kharisma Bratandari Palupi, Raikal Rafliansyah, Razzaq Fairamadhan, Annisa Luthfiyah, Cinta Yemima Purna Putri, Rania Zahra Permana, Luna Zakiyah Zahrani, and Gusti Meidhitia Syafa Talisa Nirwana. Master’s students involved included Muhammad Aga Khan, Vera Sulistyana Devi Cristyani, and Aprilia Pradina Puri. This collaboration across undergraduate and graduate levels reflected academic and practical synergy in promoting inclusive and participatory waste governance.

“I am deeply honored to collaborate with the Public Governance Research Group of Universitas Diponegoro. This community engagement activity demonstrates that cross-country collaboration can enrich our perspectives in addressing the challenges of waste management in universities” – Prof. Alex Brillantes Jr., Ph.D.

Through a community development approach, the program aimed to enhance waste management literacy, aligning with Undip’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Expected impacts include the formation of environmental change agents at the community level capable of implementing source waste reduction and separation, strengthening campus–community–local government partnership networks for sustainable waste management models, and producing concise SOPs and educational materials replicable by universities and communities.

Undip, through the Department of Public Administration, continues to promote cross-disciplinary and intergenerational collaboration to strengthen environmental governance and accelerate circular economy practices at the grassroots level.