Malang, en.SERU.co.id — Universitas Brawijaya (UB) is reinforcing its dedication to sustainable water resource management by deepening its partnership with UNESCO, highlighted through a series of events commemorating World Water Day 2026.
Although World Water Day is traditionally observed in March, UB postponed its campus activities to May due to the overlap with Eid al-Fitr preparations. The initiative forms part of a broader global campaign to raise awareness on water issues.
Prof. Andi Kurniawan, SPi, MEng, DSc, UB’s Vice Rector IV, said the university is collaborating with the Indonesian National Committee for UNESCO (KNIU) and the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta. One key outcome of this partnership is the translation of the executive summary of the United Nations World Water Development Report into Indonesian. The translated document has been submitted to UNESCO headquarters in Paris and launched alongside other official languages.
“As part of this collaboration, UB has adopted the theme Sustainable Ecohydrological Approach for Coastal Resources Management,” Prof. Andi said on Monday (11/5/2026).
“This theme represents a comparative advantage for the university and will be integrated into the Globalizing UB program, as well as our Green Campus initiatives and ongoing UNESCO partnerships.” he stated.
UB is also embedding environmental issues and water management topics into its academic curriculum to strengthen civic literacy among students.
“We need a new level of citizenship education that incorporates global environmental awareness. This is part of our concrete efforts to become an impactful university,” Prof. Andi explained.
He added that the university aims to address local water challenges in the Malang Raya region — including flooding and the disappearance of natural springs — through structured research, community service programs, and curriculum development. UB has established collaborations with the Malang Regency, Malang City, and Batu City governments to support these efforts.
Ir. Ananto Kusuma Seta, representing the Indonesian National Committee for UNESCO, praised UB’s proactive role. He noted that UB is the only university in Indonesia boldly positioning itself as a driver of strategic cooperation with UNESCO. The university is currently in the process of applying for a UNESCO Chair, which is expected to further enhance its international reputation.
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Dr. Engin Koncagul from the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta also expressed appreciation for UB’s contribution to translating the global water report, which highlights persistent gender disparities in the water sector.
“Women make up nearly half of the world’s population, yet they represent only about 25 percent of those working in the water sector,” Dr. Koncagul said.
While women bear significant responsibility for water management at the household level, their voices remain underrepresented in high-level decision-making.
He emphasized that sustainable development cannot be achieved without gender equality in water resource management and called for greater participation of women in both management roles and investment decisions within the sector.
“Indonesia has great potential to become a role model for gender-responsive water resource management,” Dr. Koncagul added.
He highlighted the importance of involving women, youth, and educational institutions, expressing hope that the collaboration with UB and the Indonesian UNESCO National Commission will improve water governance and contribute to better quality of life for communities. (bas/mzm)
