Universitas Gadjah Mada has officially established a new bachelor’s degree program in Environmental Infrastructure Engineering starting this year. The program aims to overcome today’s environmental challenges and improve environmental quality. Prospective students with a high interest in sustainable development may find themselves suitable for the program. UGM will only accept 40 students through the University’s independent entrance test for this very first cohort. Students are required to complete a minimum load of 144 credits, ideally taken in 8 semesters.
“Unlike environmental engineering that is industrial-oriented, our study program focuses more on the public sector,” said Budi Kamulyan, Head of Environmental Expertise Group of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Thursday (3/6).
According to Budi, the program will cover the following courses: introduction to environmental engineering, concrete technology, soil mechanics, design of drinking water supply infrastructure, waste management infrastructure, waste handling infrastructure, drainage infrastructure, and pollution management. There are 59 professors and doctoral graduates who will lecture the class. Seven of them are experts in pollution control infrastructure and environmental quality improvement. The rest are qualified lecturers from other relevant disciplines, such as civil engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, geological engineering, geodetic engineering, geography, and mathematics and natural sciences.
“We indeed aim to obtain international accreditation later. Hopefully, graduates can take part not only at the national level but also internationally,” said Ni Nyoman Nepi Marleni, Head of Quality Assurance Unit of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, when asked about the accreditation of the program.
According to Ni Nyoman, Environmental Infrastructure Engineering offers a curriculum that has accommodated the new government initiative Freedom to Learn - Independent Campus. Students will have broad opportunities to study other disciplines through various programs, including internships, student exchange, entrepreneurship, research, and humanitarian projects. The program has also collaborated with many local and overseas universities, government institutions, state-owned enterprises, and research institutions. Several scholarships from the government and UGM are also available.
Career options for graduates of this program vary. They can pursue careers as environmental pollution control experts, consultants, contractors, researchers, teachers or lecturers, private sector employees, public employees, staff at Environmental NGOs, and more. Hopefully, the establishment of this program will result in more human resources and experts who can assist the government in achieving the SDGs within the allotted time.
Author: Khansa