On September 11, 2024, the opening of the UI GreenMetric Online Course on sustainability for Team 2 took place. This event marked the ceremonial launch for students and professors from across the globe, collaborating with UI GreenMetric to deepen their understanding of climate issues and prepare to become future leaders capable of addressing climate disruption and fostering sustainability. The course is made possible through partnerships with several environmentally conscious universities, including Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), Mahidol University, University of Pécs, Universitas Diponegoro, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, and Arab American University. The event was held online, allowing participants worldwide to join via Zoom.
The event officially began with opening remarks from Dr. Junaidi, the Chairperson of UI GreenMetric. He provided insights into the UI GreenMetric Online Course on sustainability, which aligns with the organization's thematic priorities of cultivating global sustainability leaders. He also emphasized the importance of studying the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) featured in the course, stressing our collective responsibility to preserve the environment for future generations.
Next, remarks were delivered by Prof. Dr. Margana, M.Hum., M.A., Vice Rector for Research, Partnerships, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY). He highlighted UNY's commitment to sustainability initiatives, including energy management, water usage, waste management, transportation infrastructure, and environmental education. He further underscored the significance of participating in the UI GreenMetric Online Course as a means to develop a deeper understanding of sustainability principles and strategies.
The next speaker, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Chin-Lung Chang, President of the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, discussed the benefits of the course for students. He noted that the course offers a global perspective by bringing together expertise from around the world, thereby reflecting a shared commitment to the SDGs.
Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., Rector of Universitas Diponegoro, followed with his remarks. He described the UI GreenMetric Online Course as the first of its kind—a unique global course that unites students and experts from three continents and seven countries to explore the principles of sustainable and environmentally responsible living.
The remarks continued with the Vice Rector of Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (ZBEU), Prof. Dr. Servet KARASU, who highlighted the university's commitment to sustainability. He shared that ZBEU has demonstrated its efforts in this area by applying for rankings and meeting all the requirements within the scope of their zero-waste project. As a result, ZBEU was honored as the leading university in Türkiye in the fields of zero waste, green campus initiatives, and environmentalism by the Turkish Higher Education Council. He further emphasized that the university fully supports this online course, especially in an era where natural resources are rapidly depleting globally and climate change is a pressing issue.
The event then proceeded with remarks from Prof. Dr. Attila Miseta, Rector of the University of Pécs, who expressed his gratitude to the partners and colleagues involved in the initiative. He emphasized the course's goal of uniting minds from around the world to build a generation where sustainability is a common value.
The event continued with Prof. Dr. Mochamad Bruri Triyono, M.Pd., the course coordinator from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, who provided general information about the UI GreenMetric Online Course on sustainability. He explained that the course is designed to address complex questions concerning the interplay between the economy, social life, the environment, and human activities. Prof. Triyono also outlined the course structure, including its materials, lecturers, session dates, syllabus, Moodle platform, individual and group assignments, and assessment criteria.
The session then moved to an introduction of the SDGs by Dr. Dewi Eka Murniati, S.E., M.M. from UNY. She explained that sustainability involves balancing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions, and stressed the importance of youth engagement in sustainability efforts. She highlighted education as a catalyst for sustainable development, with this online course aimed at helping young people understand various theories and practices of sustainability to support a sustainable transition. This was followed by a Q&A session that enriched the participants' experience with insightful discussions. The session concluded with students and tutors joining breakout rooms to engage in deeper conversations about their goals and perspectives on sustainability.
This event highlights the critical role of education in driving sustainable development and how the UI GreenMetric Online Course contributes to fostering a sustainable transition by enhancing young people's understanding of sustainability principles. It aims to shape future global leaders with the vision to guide the world toward a socially inclusive, environmentally durable, and economically viable future.
Written by Salsabila D. Rahmiziri - Communication Intern
Editor: Riska P. Hariyadi