UMN Advancing Inclusive Education Rooted in the Sustainable Development Goals

(Doc. UMN)

Driven by a mission to shape future-ready leaders, UMN integrates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout its educational approach. This commitment ensures that students from all disciplines are equipped not only with theoretical knowledge but also with practical tools to tackle global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and sustainable innovation. Through this integration, students are empowered to connect their academic journey with real-world impact. 

To reinforce this mission, UMN applies a clear and consistently implemented requirement: every proposed activity, whether academic, student-led, or institutional, must demonstrate alignment with at least one SDG before it can be approved. This ensures that sustainability is not treated as a complementary aspect but embedded as a central consideration in the planning and execution of all programs. Throughout 2024, this practice has been reflected across a wide range of campus initiatives, where sustainability is positioned as a core objective that guides both content and impact.

Embedding SDGs in the Curriculum  

At UMN, integrating SDG values into the learning process is a key strategy to shape a generation that actively contributes to a more sustainable and equitable world. Through SDG-related themes embedded across courses, students are encouraged to critically engage with global challenges and apply sustainable solutions in both their studies and future careers. 

In the 2024/2025 academic year, UMN has more than 170 courses with a focus on sustainability and environmental topics. This wide-ranging integration reflects UMN’s dedication to delivering education that not only informs but also inspires action. These courses span multiple faculties and are accessible to students across programs, reinforcing the university’s holistic approach to SDG learning. Click here to view the full list of SDG-related courses. 

UMN’s Commitment to SDG Education through Learning Activities Accessible to All Students 

As part of its ongoing commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) provides diverse learning opportunities that are open and accessible to all students, regardless of their study program. These activities are designed to raise awareness, build critical skills, and encourage active student engagement with global issues such as sustainability, health, equality, digital ethics, and leadership. Below are several examples of university-wide educational initiatives that reflect UMN’s efforts to deliver meaningful, SDG-aligned learning experiences beyond the classroom. See the list of initiatives here. 

Character Building Mentoring: Empowering First-Year Students with Purpose and Values 

The Character-Building Mentoring (CBM) program, also known as Mentoring UMN, is a mandatory annual initiative for all new UMN students, designed to support their transition into university life while introducing them to the core values of the institution. Held at the beginning of each academic year, this program combines reflective activities, mentoring sessions, and collaborative team-building experiences. The 2024 mentoring carried the theme “Reveal Your Capability Within a Purposeful Quest,” encouraging students to explore their strengths, embrace new challenges, and develop a deeper sense of meaning and direction as they begin their academic journey. 

(Doc. UMN, 2024)

By nurturing self-awareness and soft skills from the outset, the program lays the foundation for responsible, values-driven leadership—aligned with UMN’s broader educational mission. CBM directly supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by fostering inclusive and holistic learning, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by equipping students with key competencies needed in today’s dynamic world. As a campus-wide, mandatory initiative, CBM represents UMN’s commitment to meaningful education that prepares students not only for academic success, but also for impactful roles in society. 

The program also has a dedicated website that outlines its purpose, objectives, and mission, along with a gallery of showcasing activities from previous years. For more information, you can explore the site here. Regular updates and highlights are also shared through the program’s official Instagram account, which you can follow. 

Navigating Academic Integrity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence 

As part of UMN’s ongoing efforts to address evolving educational challenges, a seminar titled “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Critical Thinking and Academic Integrity” was held to help students navigate the ethical and intellectual implications of AI in learning environments. The session encouraged critical reflection on how AI tools affect decision-making, originality, and the learning process, while also reinforcing the importance of academic honesty in the digital era. This initiative supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting responsible and reflective use of technology in academic contexts.  

(Doc. UMN, 2024)

The seminar was part of Pekantara UMN 2024 (Pekan Kreativitas Nusantara), a collaborative event between Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) and Multimedia Nusantara Polytechnic (MNP), held from 9–13 December 2024. With the theme “Integrating the National Character into the Sustainability Values: Shaping the Indonesian Golden Generation,” the event aimed to foster creativity, sustainability awareness, and national character development among students and the broader community, including UMN’s partner village residents. Through activities like this, UMN continues to create platforms that bridge academic knowledge with real-world values and long-term impact.