ITS Listed as SDGs Centers at Bappenas

ITS Campus, ITS News – Since April 2022, the Center for the Study of Sustainable Development Goals of the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has been listed in one of the SDGs Centers listed at the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) RI. As a university of engineering and science, ITS continues to strive to support the SDGs through various development methods so that the SDGs goals in Indonesia are achieved immediately.

Head of ITS SDGs Study Center Dr. Agnes Tuti Rumiati MSc revealed that Bappenas did not provide specific criteria for SDGs who wish to be registered in SDGs Centers. However, in this case, ITS continues to try to carry out enticing programs and concepts socialized through various media. “I think Bappenas also assesses the progress of ITS SDGs through the program,” said Tuti, her nickname.

One of the flagship programs of ITS SDGs is the Bincang Bareng TV Desa, which is broadcast every Wednesday through the TV Desa YouTube channel. More than 50 episodes have been uploaded successfully as an effort to disseminate the SDGs to the Indonesian people widely. “We are also active on various social media, such as the ITS SDGs Center YouTube account, Instagram @sdgsits, and the ITS SDGs official website,” the ITS Statistics Department lecturer explained.

After being listed at Bappenas, Tuti assessed that ITS SDGs opportunities were increasingly open to taking part nationally. The programs that will be developed later must be parallel with the central government. In addition, ITS SDGs can later play a role in disseminating central to regional programs. “In addition, we can convey more innovations to solve problems in the village through the Real Work Lecture (KKN) program,” he said.

Active since February 2020, the ITS SDGs Study Center does have a focus on technology, especially appropriate technology for village development. For this reason, the ITS SDGs team collaborates a lot with lecturers and students through KKN activities. The SDGs activities that have been carried out vary, starting from developing methods for measuring the achievement of the Village SDGs, making social and potential mapping for the preparation of village development plans, to preparing village master plans.

In addition, Tuti added, the ITS SDGs team has also succeeded in designing tourism village development, training for creative industry development based on local materials, to financial management training for Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes). Tuti added that the ITS SDGs team applied the Penta helix model and collaborated with the stakeholders from universities, private parties, local governments, village communities, and the media.

In addition, international collaborations have often been carried out by the ITS SDGs team. These include tourism development and candlenut products funded by the Alumni Grant Scheme from Australia, the bamboo school construction program with the University of Stuttgart from Germany, and many others. “For promotion, we often hold webinars and make posters,” admitted this bespectacled lecturer.

For Tuti, the biggest challenge ahead is related to public and local government awareness in implementing the model developed by the ITS SDGs team. “I hope that the ITS SDGs Study Center can lead in Indonesia, especially to help the community and government achieve the SDGs in Eastern Indonesia,” he concluded optimistically. (ITS PR)

Reporter: Erchi Ad’ha Loyensya

Translator : Hanifah Inayah