From Campus to Community: UIN Jakarta and Leibniz University Seek to Translate SDGs into Real‑World Action

Diorama Room, UIN Online News — The Institute for Research and Community Service (LP2M) Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta hosted an international seminar titled “Why the SDGs Matter for Universities: Advancing Institutional Development, Reputation, and Societal‑Global Impact,” on Thursday, October 16, 2025. The event took place in the Diorama Room on the ground floor of the Harun Nasution Auditorium, featuring Professor Dr. Lysann Zander—an expert in empirical education research from Leibniz University, Hannover, Germany.

UIN Jakarta’s rector explained that the SDGs provide a global framework and universities are ideal arenas for action to raise educational quality.

“We need to strengthen our readiness to meet the SDG challenges both in society and within academia. Applying SDG principles on campus will directly benefit students and reinforce the university’s role as an agent of change. It offers a shared language and global framework, and universities are strategically positioned to turn that commitment into concrete action,” Asep Saipudin Jahar said.

The next presentation is brought by Prof. Zander who highlighted numerous social and academic problems that can be addressed through partnership to achieve the SDGs.

“Many campus issues can actually be resolved when strong relationships develop between institutions and students. The impact is strategic: student success rises noticeably, and institutional reputation follows suit. Students who feel valued are more likely to voluntarily share their positive experiences with peers and on social media. Their satisfaction becomes the best promotion for the campus. When students are happy, the institution grows and earns trust,” he conveyed.

Prof. Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem, M.A., Ph.D. added that SDGs have become a goal between UIN Jakarta and Leibniz University in global rankings and key reporting frameworks which shape institutional reputation and partnerships. According to her, publishing on SDG topics strengthens collaboration opportunities, funding prospects, and aligns university missions with global priorities.

“The SDG theme is crucial because it directly ties to our lives, public policy, and society. For developing countries like Indonesia, the SDGs are a strategic way to support government efforts to accelerate development while ensuring sustainability. Through this approach, the progress will deliver long‑term benefits for society at large,” she added.

As a professor of FITK at UIN Jakarta, she also invited participants to submit their scholarly papers on SDG-related topics via https://bit.ly/GreenThink2025

(Meisa Aqila N.H/Fauziah M./Zaenal M./Muhamad Arifin Ilham/Photos: PIH)