Has your institution formed a Sustainability committee?

To best integrate and monitor the implementation of the SDGs, the university established the UGM SDGs Center: Inaugurated on August 28, 2019, by the Ministry of National Development Planning, the UGM SDGs Center aims to synergize the university’s activities in education, teaching, and community service to contribute effectively to sustainable development.

The current university executives that sit in this committee include:

• The Vice Rector for Education and Learning: Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA.
• The Director of Education and Learning: Prof. dr. Gandes Retno Rahayu, M.Med.Ed., Ph.D
• The Director of Asset: Dr.Eng. Ir. Ahmad Sarwadi, M.Eng
• The Director of Research: Prof. Dr. Mirwan Ushada
• The Director of Community Services: Dr. dr. Rustamadji, M.Kes.
• Head of the University Quality Assurance and Reputation Unit: Prof. Indra Wijaya Kusuma, M.B.A., Ph.D.

UGM is proactive in programs on sustainability:

Integration into Curriculum and Community Service: UGM incorporates SDG-related content into its courses and the Student-Community Service Program (KKN-PPM), ensuring that students actively participate in projects aligned with sustainable development. This approach embeds the SDGs within the academic experience, making them relevant and applicable to all students. 

Commitment to Inclusive Education: Reflecting its dedication to SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 1 (No Poverty), UGM provides various support programs for students from low-income families, including scholarships, peer counseling, and other assistance, ensuring equitable access to education. 

Recognition and Rankings: UGM Ranked 1st in Indonesia and 409th in the World in the 2026 QS Sustainability Rankings and  ranked 82nd in the world out of a total of 2,318 universities evaluated globally, with an overall score of 90.3 out of 100. UGM’s 4 Priority SDGs in 2025 include:

• SDG 1: No Poverty which places UGM in 6th place in the world out of 1,267 institutions, 
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth in 31st place out of 1,350 institutions, 
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure in 79th place out of 1,156 institutions.
• SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals is ranked 101-200 out of 2,389 institutions. 

Through these initiatives, UGM ensures that education around the SDGs is meaningful, relevant, and accessible to all students, preparing them to contribute effectively to sustainable development in their future endeavors. 

In addition, the university has formed several committees handling various issues in the field of sustainable development. The committees put the Head of the Integrated Health Services Bureau as the person responsible for the overall operation. They are formed into working groups handling particular thematic areas. The committees put the Head of the Integrated Health Services Bureau as the person responsible for the overall operation. These working groups handle particular thematic areas, such as:

1. Health Literacy Working Group Team
2. Physical Activity Working Group Team
3. Healthy Eating Patterns Working Group Team
4. Mental Health Working Group Team
5. Working Group Team for Establishing a Healthy, Safe and Disabled Friendly Living Environment
6. Reproductive Health Working Group Team
7. Zero Tolerance Violence and Bullying Working Group Team
8. Zero Tolerance Working Group Team on Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Abuse 

UGM also formed a Task Force for Preventing and Handling Sexual Violence. Through this task force, a series of education programs was carried out in the form of socializing SOPs and Guidelines for Handling Sexual Violence in the academic community. The university also dedicates a specialized website for reporting incidents of sexual violence at UGM.

Sources:

1. UGM SDGs Center
2. UGM’s Ranking on Sustainability 
3. UGM’s ranking on THE Impact Ranking
4. Health Promoting University (HPU)
5. Task Force for Preventing and Handling Sexual Violence