Universitas Brawijaya Launches SDG Center During ICSDG 2026, Strengthening Institutional Commitment to Sustainable Development
Malang, 2026 – Universitas Brawijaya (UB) officially launched its SDG Center during the opening ceremony of the 2026 International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals (ICSDG 2026). This launch marks a significant milestone in the university’s efforts to institutionalize sustainability and accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (single SDGs) across its academic and operational activities. Under the theme “Sustainable Development in Times of Uncertainty: Equity, Innovation, and Resilience,” the conference brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, industry representatives, and students from 15 countries.
The conference was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Ir. Imam Santoso, M.P., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of Universitas Brawijaya. In his opening remarks, he emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting the SDGs through education, research, innovation, and community engagement. He highlighted that higher education institutions play a strategic role in addressing complex global challenges and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to achieve a meaningful, lasting impact.
A key highlight of the event was the introduction of the Universitas Brawijaya SDG Center by its Head, Novia Luciana, Ph.D. Established in 2025, the center serves as a dedicated platform to strengthen the coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of sustainability initiatives across the university. According to Dr. Novia, the center was created to ensure that sustainability principles are deeply integrated into teaching, research, community service, and institutional management, while fostering a sense of collective responsibility among all faculties and academic units.
The launch reflects Universitas Brawijaya’s growing engagement with international sustainability frameworks and global rankings. During her presentation, Dr. Novia noted that UB continuously improves its performance in global sustainability assessments, including the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, QS Sustainability Rankings, and the UI GreenMetric Sustainable University Rankings—particularly within the core criteria of Setting and Infrastructure, Waste Management, and Education and Research. As a media partner for the event, UI GreenMetric continues to support and encourage universities around the world to develop sustainability initiatives, reinforcing its role as a global platform for institutional environmental stewardship. Furthermore, UB also introduced its new SDG Dashboard, a data-driven monitoring platform designed to systematically measure and evaluate progress toward achieving institutional sustainability targets.
In conjunction with the launch, Universitas Brawijaya organized Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) addressing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), bringing together experts and stakeholders to explore collaborative solutions to contemporary environmental and social challenges. The university also highlighted several ongoing flagship initiatives, including the UB Green Campus Initiative and the Kampung Lingkar Campus (Campus Circle Village) Program, which encourage sustainable practices both within the campus environment and throughout the surrounding local communities.
The SDG Center launch was accompanied by the unveiling of the university’s sustainability vision under the tagline “Innovating Today, Sustaining Tomorrow.” Through a video presentation, Universitas Brawijaya showcased a range of sustainability-oriented innovations. These included climate-smart technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) applications for health and education, electric vehicle (EV) development, renewable energy solutions, and sustainable agricultural technologies. These initiatives demonstrate the university’s commitment to translating academic research into practical solutions that directly benefit society and the environment.
Another major feature of the opening ceremony was the SDG Recognition Awards, which celebrated faculties and academic units for their outstanding contributions to advancing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Following a comprehensive evaluation process, various faculties received awards across individual SDG categories, while the Graduate School (Sekolah Pascasarjana) was named the Grand Champion of the 2026 SDG Recognition Awards for its exceptional overall performance and systemic contribution to sustainability initiatives within the university.
The conference further demonstrated Universitas Brawijaya’s commitment to fostering international cooperation. ICSDG 2026 brought together 285 presenters and 26 young researchers from countries including Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, India, China, Ireland, England, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, Türkiye, and the Philippines. Participants engaged in dynamic discussions across five scientific tracks covering social equity, green technology, sustainable economic growth, quality education, health and well-being, governance, and collaborative partnerships.
As a university actively engaged in global sustainability networks, Universitas Brawijaya continues to strengthen its institutional framework through innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based action. Supported by UI GreenMetric’s global vision to empower higher education institutions worldwide, the establishment of the SDG Center represents a vital step toward ensuring that survival and sustainability become an integral part of university governance and culture, contributing significantly to broader national and global efforts to secure a resilient future.
Written by Muhammmad Dito Rizki Suprapto - Media Relations Intern of UI GreenMetric
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