Workshop on UI GreenMetric for Islamic Higher Education Institutions 2024" was held from July 29th to 31st, with the theme "Instituting UI GreenMetric: The Way Forward." Hosted by UIN Raden Fatah Palembang, this event aimed to be part of a collaborative effort to drive systemic change toward sustainable development goals in higher education institutions. Commenced at UIN Raden Fatah Palembang, one of the leading campuses in Sumatera Province, Indonesia, which is committed to participating in sustainable goals through its continuous efforts to transform the campus to be greener.
The opening speech was delivered by Prof. Dr. Ir. Riri Fitri Sari, M.M., M.Sc, The Chairperson of UI Greenmetric, who highlighted her appreciation for UIN Raden Fatah Palembang’s committed efforts and underlined the need to maintain the spirit of universities worldwide to work together toward sustainability for the sake of future generations.
The remarks continued with Prof. Dr. Nyanyu Khodijah S.Ag., M.Si, the Rector of UIN Raden Fatah Palembang, who welcomed all distinguished guests from Islamic higher education institutions in Indonesia and emphasized the Islamic values that prioritize everything based on goodwill, which aligns with the aims of UI GreenMetric as a world-ranking university that encourages institutions of higher education to be more environmentally responsible.
The main event of the workshop was held on the second day, where distinguished speakers from various universities delivered their speeches on the six criteria used by UI GreenMetric to determine their world ranking system. The first session was led by Dr. Junaidi, M.A., Vice Chair of UI GreenMetric, who explored the background and operational aspects of UI GreenMetric, including the establishment of the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking Network (UI GWRUN). This network serves as a unique selling point for UI GreenMetric, operating beyond mere benchmarking by promoting collaboration among universities worldwide to foster green campuses through knowledge exchange among members.
In this momentous event, a declaration of UI GreenMetric membership was made by five universities, committing to participate in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings and Network. This marks their collective commitment to actively transform higher education institutions into leaders in the pursuit of a sustainable future. The new university members are as follows:
• IAIN Kudus,
• Institut Teknologi dan Sains Nadhlatul Ulama Sriwijaya Palembang,
• UIN Syekh Ali Hasan Ahmad Addary Padangsidimpuan,
• Politeknik Pariwisata NHI Bandung,
• Poltekkes Kemenkes Palembang
The workshop sessions continued after the signing of UI Greenmetric Declaration membership. Divided into two sessions, the discussion centered around the six criteria used by UI GreenMetric. The first session discussed the themes of Setting & Infrastructure Management, Energy & Climate Change, and Waste. This session was delivered by Prof. Dr. Arif Satria, S.P., M.Si. (Rector of Institut Pertanian Bogor), Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Fatah Sulaiman, S.T., M.T. (Rector of Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa), and Prof. Wan Jamaluddin Z., M.Ag., Ph.D. (Rector of Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Intan Lampung), providing perceptive views around the best practices for universities to actively taking parts toward sustainable futures.
The second session emphasized the criteria of Water Management, Transportation, and Education & Research. Three speakers provided insightful points of view during the discussion: Dr. Ir. Ledis Heru Saryono Putro, M.Si. (Head of the Eco-green Campus Team at UIN Raden Fatah Palembang), Prof. Ir. Hj. Erika Buchari, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Professor at the Faculty of Engineering at Universitas Sriwijaya), and Prof. Dr. Hadiyanto, S.T., M.Sc., M.M. (Head of the Office of Diponegoro University).
Concluding the second day of the Workshop on UI GreenMetric for Islamic Higher Education Institutions 2024, the event included the dissemination of catfish fry at Kanal Kampus Jakabaring, UIN Raden Fatah Palembang.
On the final day, the event featured site visits to showcase the beauty and cultural richness of Palembang City, including visits to the Songket Craftsmen, the Al-Quran Al-Akbar House, and the Sriwijaya Kingdom Tourism Park (History of the Sriwijaya Kingdom).
This workshop served as a platform for attendees to share knowledge, learn from best practices, and gain insights from leading institutions in sustainability to encourage other universities to transform toward greener campuses.
The collaborative efforts to lead systemic change toward a sustainable future will continue as Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Malang hosts the Workshop on UI GreenMetric for Islamic Higher Education Institutions for next year. This workshop aims to promote knowledge exchange and encourage all higher education institutions to operate their campuses in a sustainable framework.
Documentation: HUMAS UIN Raden Fatah Palembang Written by Riska P. Hariyadi