Kebumen, September 21, 2025 – In an effort to strengthen the role of education and concern for environmental issues, the Alumni Association of Universitas Terbuka (IKA-UT) Kebumen once again held a Promotion Socialization (Sosprom) program. The activity, packaged as a workshop themed “Processing Waste, Arranging the Future,” took place at the Theater Building of the Kebumen Archival and Library Office (Disarpus).
The event was attended by about 50 participants from various professional backgrounds and ages. The atmosphere was warm, interactive, and full of enthusiasm. It served not only as a promotional venue for open higher education but also as a public education space on the importance of wise and sustainable waste management.
The workshop was a collaboration between IKA-UT Kebumen and the Universitas Terbuka Service Center (SALUT) Kebumen. The main goal of the activity was to introduce Universitas Terbuka as a flexible and affordable alternative for higher education, as well as to make a tangible contribution to sustainable development through environmental education for the community.
One interesting moment in the workshop was the presentation by Annisa Quraini, a representative from Labtanya South Tangerang, who attended as a speaker. She introduced an educational game called the “Minimal Waste Home Card” (KMS), which invited participants to understand the connection between household consumption patterns and daily waste production. This approach served as an effective means to build critical public awareness while creating an enjoyable learning atmosphere.
In his speech, the Chairman of IKA-UT Kebumen, Teguh Hindarto, emphasized that the activity was not merely academic socialization but also part of the contribution of Universitas Terbuka alumni in addressing social and environmental challenges. He mentioned that changing consumption patterns and improving public literacy regarding environmental issues are important initial steps to encourage more systematic waste management.
Furthermore, IKA-UT and SALUT Kebumen expressed hope that this activity would be able to build a collective awareness among the public to play an active role in protecting the environment. The workshop also served as a form of support for the global agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 11 on sustainable cities and communities and Goal 12 on responsible consumption and production.
Through such an educational and participatory approach, IKA-UT Kebumen showed that education and environmental awareness can go hand-in-hand as part of a collective movement to build a more sustainable future.
The hope for the future is that with the increasing awareness and participation from various levels of society, sustainable waste management will no longer be mere discourse but a real practice that contributes to the creation of a clean, healthy, and sustainable living environment.
