Semarang, 5 May 2026 — The SDGs Center – Institute for Research and Community Services (LPPM) at Universitas Diponegoro proudly inaugurated the SDGs Summer Course 2026, centered on the vital theme of “Community-Based Waste Upcycling for New Resources.” The opening ceremony, held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, marked the commencement of an intensive international program aimed at fostering global collaboration and community-driven innovation in sustainable waste management.
The program was officially opened by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Suherman, S.T., M.T., Head of the Institute for Research and Community Services (LPPM UNDIP), through a symbolic inaugural ceremony that signaled the start of this year’s academic journey. Professor Bulan Prabawani, Head of the SDGs Center UNDIP, extended a warm welcome to all participants, expressing her high expectations for the cohort. She encouraged the students to deeply immerse themselves in the curriculum and to extract as much knowledge as possible from the experts and activities provided throughout the course.
The foundational material on Integrated Waste Management Systems was delivered by the distinguished Prof. Ir. Mochamad Arief Budihardjo, S.T., M.Eng.Sc., Env.Eng., Ph.D., IPU., ASEAN Eng. and his team. During this intensive session, the team detailed the advanced methodologies used in Indonesia, such as the application of PowerSim for calculating waste emissions in domestic and landfill settings, as well as the use of SimaPro for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to determine the long-term sustainability of waste processes. Furthermore, the lecture highlighted the strategic role of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in converting solid waste into energy, with a strong recommendation for its implementation across all landfills (TPA) in Indonesia. The day’s activities concluded with a vibrant interactive session where participants actively shared perspectives on the waste management systems implemented in their own home countries. The first day concluded with a formal presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation to Professor Arief by Professor Bulan Prabawani, marking a successful start to the 2026 summer program.
