Student-led societies are at the heart of the sustainability movement. These societies cultivate awareness and responsibility among students, helping to build future leaders who prioritize sustainability. Their activities complement UGM’s sustainability goals, bridging the gap between campus policies and student action. By empowering its students to take ownership of issues pertaining to SDGs, UGM strengthens their role as catalysts for sustainable development, both locally and globally.

Student Unions

UGM recognizes the Rector’s Regulation No. 1 Year 2017 on UGM Student Unions, in which students at UGM are given the right to establish student unions under the supervision of the Student Affairs Directorate. Student Unions provides a structural organization for students to be involved in a learning governance environment as well as conducting proper organization practices including providing governance input to the university, support for students (e.g. scholarship platform), and organizing social activities (knowledge dissemination, advocacy, service programs, and various forms of community empowerment activities). 

The Student Executive Board (BEM) KM UGM

The Student Executive Board (BEM) KM UGM serves as a hub for student activism and self-development, supporting academic, social, and leadership initiatives. Their agenda includes providing inclusive student services, fostering community service, advocating for impactful issues, and building collaborative relationships. Additionally, UGM supports 50 Student Activity Units, ensuring diverse student engagement and activities. This comprehensive approach underscores UGM’s commitment to involving students in the governance and enhancing their university experience.

LokaLogi, a community that cares about waste

LokaLogi is a student-led-awareness-community under the Pramuka (Scouts) student activity unit which was established in commemoration of World Environment Day 2024. LokaLogi was formed as a platform to empower students in addressing environmental and waste management issues through innovation and concrete action. The community is not only a collective for student action but also a hub that connects and supports other waste management communities.

Source: UGM Student Community ‘Lokalogi’ Engages in Waste Sorting and Management

LokaLogi’s main activities include raising awareness on waste issues, promoting simple waste management practices such as reuse and recycling, and providing event waste management services both within UGM and for the scouting community. The community also functions as an educational media platform and a channel for collaborative outreach, making waste solutions more accessible and understandable for the public.

Student Activity Unit of Diffable Care (SAUDC)

UGM has its very own Student Activity Unit of Diffable Care (SAUDC or UKM Peduli Difabel) aimed to accommodate aspirations, motivate, and stand for rights of people with disabilities within the UGM community. This organisation plays a key role in promoting inclusivity by empowering students with disabilities to organise events and initiatives that enhance their capacities and raise awareness about disability inclusion within the UGM community. The members of SAUDC are both disabled and non-disabled UGM students who actively volunteer to support the cause. The organisation’s primary goals include addressing the aspirations of students with disabilities, providing motivation, and advocating for disability-related issues and rights within the university. By fostering collaboration and understanding, this unit contributes significantly to creating a more inclusive and supportive academic environment.