Twenty-five international students from 17 countries—China, Ethiopia, the Philippines, The Gambia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Yemen—participated in a program exploring community-based sustainable waste management practices in Indonesia.
The participants were selected through a highly competitive process that attracted 408 applicants from 42 countries.
Over one week, they took part in the Municipal Waste Management: Workshop and Field Trip 2026, held from July 20–26, 2026, in Yogyakarta. Organized by the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Agriculture UGM), the program carried the theme “Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Waste Solutions”. It was conducted in collaboration with UGM’s Community Service Program (KKN-PPM UGM) teams in the Baciro and Terban urban villages.
Professor Irfan Dwidya Prijambada, Chair of the UGM EQUITY World Class University (WCU) Program, said the initiative was designed to introduce KKN-PPM UGM, one of the university’s flagship programs recognized by UNESCO and the United Nations University (UNU).
Through collaboration with KKN-PPM UGM students in Baciro and Terban, international participants experienced firsthand the community engagement that has become a hallmark of the program.
Professor Prijambada explained that participants worked alongside KKN-PPM students in educational activities and exchanged experiences on household waste management, waste segregation at the source, and the importance of community participation in maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
“This collaboration provides a platform for knowledge exchange among international students, UGM students, and local communities while enriching the cross-cultural experience of all participants,” he said on Tuesday (Jul. 28).
The program combined expert discussions, field visits, and direct interaction with communities and other stakeholders involved in environmental management.
Through an experiential learning approach, participants gained insights into urban waste management, the circular economy, microorganism-based organic waste processing, and community empowerment practices to create a more sustainable environment.
Field activities were a highlight of the program. Participants visited several waste management sites across Yogyakarta to observe firsthand how waste management systems are implemented through collaboration among communities, government agencies, academics, and the private sector.
“In addition to gaining technical experience, participants also discussed waste management challenges in their respective countries, creating valuable opportunities for cross-cultural knowledge and experience sharing,” Professor Prijambada said.
Dr. Susanti Mugi Lestari, coordinator of the event committee, said the international academic program promotes global collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building for students and faculty members. She added that the program also strengthens UGM’s position as a world-class university committed to addressing global challenges.
Dr. Desi Utami, Head of the Agricultural Microbiology Study Program and program coordinator, said one of the initiative’s primary goals was to give students international exposure without requiring them to leave campus.
“Through interaction with dozens of international students, participants can expand their networks, improve cross-cultural communication skills, and create opportunities for future academic and professional collaboration,” Dr. Utami said.
According to Dr. Utami, the participants’ diverse backgrounds made the program a dynamic platform for international collaboration. Students from different regions of the world exchanged perspectives on innovations, policies, and best practices in sustainable waste management.
The networks established through the program are expected to serve as a foundation for future collaboration in research, education, and community service.
“We aim for this program to inspire the development and implementation of innovative waste management solutions in countries around the world.,” she said.
The program also further strengthens the Department of Agricultural Microbiology at UGM as an international learning hub for environmental microbiology and sustainable waste management.
“We hope the spirit of collaboration fostered through this program will continue to grow into a global network that contributes meaningful, innovative, inclusive, and sustainable environmental solutions,” Dr. Utami concluded.
The week-long program allowed international students to learn not only the technical aspects of waste management but also the role of communities in creating sustainable environmental solutions. By connecting students from 17 countries with UGM students and local communities, the program also created opportunities for cross-cultural learning and future international collaboration.
Author: Hanifah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: Courtesy of the UGM Faculty of Agriculture