Yogyakarta, October 16, 2026 — The Master’s Program in Environmental Science (MIL), Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held an Academic and Quality Assurance Workshop on Friday, October 16, at Hotel MM UGM, Yogyakarta. The workshop served as a forum for evaluation, coordination, and the development of follow-up actions to strengthen academic delivery and the program’s quality assurance system.
The workshop was organized as a follow-up to the implementation of the 2026 New Curriculum, the accreditation application process with the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT), and the results of the 2026 Internal Quality Audit (AMI). The agenda included aligning curriculum implementation with areas of specialization, updating Semester Learning Program and Activity Plans (RPKPS), monitoring and evaluating the use of the Outcome-Based Assessment Information System (SIOBA), and preparing follow-up actions related to accreditation and the internal quality audit findings.
During the academic discussion, Head of the Master’s Program in Environmental Science, Dr. Sudaryatno, M.Si., emphasized the importance of aligning the program’s targets with the university’s development priorities, particularly through the downstream application of academic research and initiatives (hilirisasi). One of the approaches discussed was developing programs that deliver tangible benefits to communities, including those in border regions. Existing initiatives, such as the construction of 22 bore wells to support drinking water needs and agricultural activities, were highlighted as examples of contributions that could be further developed.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of strengthening interdisciplinary approaches in environmental education and research. Prof. Dr. Suwarno Hadisusanto, S.U., stressed that environmental issues cannot be adequately understood solely from a physical perspective. Instead, they must be analyzed comprehensively by considering biotic, abiotic, and cultural components. The ecological challenges facing Rawa Pening, for example, illustrate the interconnectedness of agricultural activities, nutrient inputs from the watershed, and the growth of water hyacinth. Addressing such environmental problems therefore requires a comprehensive process encompassing problem identification, mitigation measures, evaluation, and the formulation of recommendations.
In line with this approach, Dr. Noorhadi Rahardjo, M.S., proposed strengthening the downstream application of academic knowledge through Fieldwork Courses (Kuliah Kerja Lapangan or KKL). These activities are expected to integrate different areas of specialization rather than allowing them to operate separately, while also serving as a learning platform for developing recommendations and solutions to environmental challenges.
The workshop also addressed the coordination of KKL implementation and academic procedures across different areas of specialization, including the Master’s Program in Environmental Management (MPL), the Master’s Program in Technology for Sustainable Development (MTPB), and the Master’s Program in Geographic Information (Geo-Info). In addition, participants discussed opportunities to develop competency-based training programs, including the delineation of ecoregions and the calculation of environmental carrying and assimilative capacities for MPL, waste management for MTPB, and non-degree training programs for Geo-Info.
During the session on the Internal Quality Audit findings, several aspects of program delivery were evaluated, including new student registration rates, partial scholarship support provided by the study program, the scheduling of KKL activities across semesters, and examination management procedures. The feedback and recommendations gathered during the discussion will inform more targeted improvement measures tailored to the needs of each area of specialization.
The Academic and Quality Assurance Workshop also contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through efforts to strengthen learning quality and academic quality assurance systems. Furthermore, coordination across areas of specialization and the development of collaborative solutions support SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. These connections reflect the program’s efforts to integrate educational quality improvement with competency development and the sustainable resolution of environmental challenges.
Through this workshop, the UGM Master’s Program in Environmental Science reaffirmed its commitment to continuously improving educational quality, strengthening academic coordination, and developing learning approaches oriented toward addressing environmental challenges. The outcomes of the discussions are expected to serve as a basis for measurable, documented, and sustainable follow-up plans, while further strengthening the program’s contribution to sustainable development.
Author: Allaniz Mourenna Selsa
Photographer: Dwiki Jatmiko