Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) actively contributes to the development and implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) policies at both national and regional levels in Indonesia. UGM’s involvement covers various aspects, including problem identification, policy formulation, strategic planning, and intervention monitoring. UGM’s involvement through cooperation with NGOs and the government has resulted in the following products: At least there are 5 points related to the national government in various fields such as health and collaboration in fisheries and public policy. UGM’s involvement at the regional NGO level is realised through GO-SOUTH.
UGM’s contribution and involvement with National Government
The Fourth National Forum on Health Philanthropy, held on October 10-11, 2023, was organised by the Center for Health Policy and Management (PKMK) at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK) UGM. The forum addressed Indonesia’s status as the world’s most generous country in 2022, as the Charities Aid Foundation’s World Giving Index reported. The event highlighted the significant role of health philanthropy in addressing healthcare funding gaps and emphasised the need for sustainable social investments to improve healthcare services and quality of life. Discussions also covered the importance of involving philanthropists in healthcare planning and the necessity for supportive regulations and tax incentives to encourage philanthropic contributions.
The Disaster Management Division of the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK) at UGM organised “Workshop Penyusunan Puskesmas Disaster Plan”, which is part of the Pre-Forum Nasional Jaringan Kebijakan Kesehatan Indonesia (JKKI) XIII series in 2023. Puskesmas (community health centres) play a critical role in disaster preparedness and response. Therefore, this highlights the necessity for these centres to develop comprehensive disaster plans to manage both natural and non-natural disasters effectively. The primary goals include informing participants about the need for a Puskesmas Disaster Plan, guiding them through disaster risk analysis, detailing the components of the disaster plan, calculating existing workforce capacity, identifying potential gaps, and outlining follow-up actions based on the disaster plan guidelines.
The 7th Mubyarto Public Policy Forum, in collaboration between UGM and ANU, held on October 6, 2023, at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, focused on the political economy of tobacco control in the country. The forum addressed critical questions, including why Indonesia lags behind its peers in tobacco control, how political interference hampers effective measures, and the actual impact of tobacco control on industry workers such as farmers and factory staff. The output of the forum was handed to the government as a result of this collaboration with The Australian National University Indonesia Project.
The 2023 Forum of Indonesian Fisheries and Marine Higher Education Institutions (FP2TPK), hosted by UGM’s Department of Fisheries, brought together Indonesian universities specialising in fisheries and marine sciences to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event focused on aligning educational programs with global standards to equip graduates with skills to support SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land). It highlighted the integration of research and community engagement to promote sustainable fisheries and marine resource management, contributing to SDG 2 (zero hunger) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). Participants shared successful practices and methodologies, enhancing regional efforts to tackle common challenges. Additionally, the forum fostered collaboration among academic leaders to develop policy recommendations, ensuring alignment with international best practices and advancing SDG-related objectives in marine conservation.
The University, through the Circular Economy Forum (CEF) 2023, organised by the Center for World Trade Studies (CWTS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, aims to bridge local Indonesian communities and policymakers in strengthening and mainstreaming the implementation of the Blue Economy. The event includes a pre-event discussion forum, a policy roundtable, a community market, and an environmental campaign1. It also focuses on advocacy, policy intervention, and community empowerment to support the Blue Economy discourse.
On the other hand, the “GO SOUTH” initiative by the Institute of International Studies (IIS) at Universitas Gadjah Mada focuses on exploring the dynamics and challenges faced by the Global South in geopolitical turbulence. The 2024 Annual Convention on the Global South, themed “Global South in Geopolitical Turbulence,” aims to provide a platform for vibrant discussions and debates on the complexities and opportunities for Global South countries amid rising global tensions.
References:
- The Fourth National Forum on Health Philanthropy
- Workshop Penyusunan Puskesmas Disaster Plan
- The 7th Mubyarto Public Policy Forum, in collaboration between UGM and ANU
- Forum of Indonesian Fisheries and Marine Higher Education Institutions (FP2TPK)
- The Circular Economy Forum (CEF) 2023
- The Institute of International Studies (IIS)