Forty-seven international students from various Asian countries, accompanied by two academic staff from Universiti Malaya, namely Dr. Mohd Usman Mohd Junaidi and Dr. Zulhelmi Amir, visited the riverside community along the Code River in the Cokrodiningratan area of Yogyakarta on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.
This visit was part of the Global Resilience for Environmental and Natural Sustainability (GREENS)-AUN Summer Course 2025, organized by the Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).
As part of the program, visiting residents along the Code River was chosen as a learning platform, according to Dr. Jonas Kristanto of UGM’s Department of Chemical Engineering.
He explained that this area has already partnered with UGM for community service initiatives and technology-appropriate applications under the community service program (KKN-PPM UGM).
“Residents of Code are known for their strong community initiatives, such as waste banks and urban farming systems managed by volunteer women’s groups,” said Dr. Kristanto in a statement sent to journalists on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.
To introduce participants to Yogyakarta’s local perspective, particularly the riverside community’s practice of sustainability and environmental resilience, Dr. Kristanto added that students were invited to immerse themselves in the lives of the Cokrodiningratan residents living along the banks of the Code River, an area also considered disaster-prone due to Mount Merapi’s activity.
“Residents along the Code River have established an early warning system for disasters and routinely conduct evacuation drills every six months, as well as have wastewater treatment facilities for laundry activities built with UGM’s support, which help reduce water pollution,” he said.
Professor Wiratni, from the UGM’s Department of Chemical Engineering, said the program not only supports local waste management and food resilience but also exemplifies women’s vital role in sustainable environmental development.
“The role of women’s groups in waste and garbage management is extremely important,” she said.
Participants in the GREENS-AUN Summer Camp 2025 gained firsthand experience from the visit through observing the prudent use of local resources and the resilience of the local community.
Supported by UGM’s Directorate of Partnerships and Global Relations, this activity also reinforced cross-cultural learning as a response to global challenges related to sustainability and climate change.
Author: Alena
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographs: Directorate of Partnerships and Global Relations