Suwara Program: Empowering Coastal Communities through Climate Adaptation Education

The Suwara program, a community service initiative from Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN), actively addresses SDG 13 (Climate Action) by focusing on disaster risk mitigation and climate education for elementary school children in coastal regions. In collaboration with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Pandeglang Regency, this program forms a strong partnership that enhances its credibility and effectiveness. By combining academic resources and local government expertise, Suwara is designed to equip young learners with critical knowledge and skills to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, particularly those exacerbated by climate change in vulnerable coastal areas. 

The program’s educational activities take place in an elementary school located in Carita, a coastal village in Pandeglang, Banten Province, Indonesia. This targeted location amplifies the program’s impact by addressing the specific risks faced by communities living along the coast, where rising sea levels and extreme weather events pose increasing threats. Through this collaboration between UMN and BPBD, Suwara not only fosters greater community resilience but also models effective cooperation between academic institutions and local government agencies, thereby advancing climate adaptation efforts at the grassroots level. See more here. 

UMN Strengthens Smart City Collaboration with Tangerang Government to Support Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development 

On February 13, 2024, Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tangerang City Government as part of Indonesia’s “100 Smart Cities” initiative, a national program involving multiple ministries such as Kominfo, Bappenas, and the Ministry of Public Works. This collaboration aims to develop a Smart City Master Plan, where universities contribute knowledge and innovation to enhance local development. UMN plays a strategic role in program design, infrastructure planning, and technology implementation, particularly in strengthening public services through digital systems and promoting sustainable urban growth. These efforts align with SDG 13, as UMN actively supports regional governments in building systems that contribute to early disaster risk monitoring and climate change adaptation. 

Through this partnership, UMN mobilizes its academic resources—including lecturers from the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) and faculties of engineering, communication, and business—to co-develop solutions that increase climate resilience. By embedding information and communication technologies into urban planning, UMN helps empower communities, particularly youth, to engage in climate-smart practices. The initiative also promotes cooperative planning by encouraging knowledge-sharing between government, academia, and local residents, ensuring that Tangerang’s transformation into a smart city is inclusive, adaptive, and environmentally sustainable. Read more here. 

UMN Physics Engineering Supports Climate Risk Monitoring through Webinar with Perhutani 

(Physics Engineering and PERHUTANI Documentation, 2024)

Forests are invaluable assets that play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth by absorbing carbon and maintaining ecosystem balance. However, managing these vital resources has become increasingly complex due to climate change and environmental threats. By leveraging advanced technologies such as UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and GIS Remote Sensing analysis, forest monitoring, mapping, and planning can be carried out more accurately and efficiently, enabling timely decision-making and risk management. 

In line with this, the university hosted the 14th public lecture webinar titled Sharing Knowledge: Forest Monitoring and Management through the Support of GIS Remote Sensing and UAV Technology. The session was presented by Mr. Widastama Angga Permana, S.T., Head of the Geographic Information Systems Subsection at Perhutani, the state-owned forestry company. This webinar, attended by the Task Force (TF) of Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN), reflects the university’s commitment to informing and supporting local government efforts in climate change risk monitoring, fostering collaborative learning to enhance regional resilience against climate-related disasters. Watch the webinar here.