Building a Disaster-Resilient Campus, UNU Jogja Strengthens Fire Protection System with BPBD Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Safety on a university campus depends not only on adequate infrastructure but also on the preparedness of everyone who studies and works within it. As part of its commitment to creating a safer learning environment, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) organized a Fire Protection System Socialization and Fire Safety Management Assessment (Manajemen Keselamatan Kebakaran Gedung/MKKG) in collaboration with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta on Tuesday, June 30.

The program was conducted as a follow-up to the cooperation between UNU Jogja and BPBD Yogyakarta to strengthen disaster risk reduction efforts and promote a culture of safety across the campus. It was attended by university leaders, faculty members, administrative staff, students, and employees from several organizations based within the UNU Jogja campus area.

The socialization session featured Mahujud Shosita Hady, S.Sos., M.Si., Fire Analyst at the Fire and Rescue Division of BPBD Yogyakarta, who highlighted the importance of disaster risk reduction and the implementation of effective fire protection systems in institutional buildings.

During his presentation, Mahujud explained that the Special Region of Yogyakarta is one of Indonesia's provinces with a high level of disaster risk. Based on the Regional Resilience Index (IKD), the province faces 14 potential disaster threats, with fires among the most frequently occurring hazards. He emphasized that fire preparedness should therefore be a shared responsibility, including within higher education institutions.

He also noted that modern disaster management places greater emphasis on prevention and preparedness rather than post-disaster response. Citing research findings presented during the session, Mahujud explained that many disaster casualties result not from the disaster itself but from people's limited capacity to protect themselves and respond appropriately during emergencies.

For this reason, an effective fire protection system involves more than providing equipment such as portable fire extinguishers (APAR), fire alarm systems, smoke detectors, and evacuation routes. It also requires continuous education, training, and simulation exercises to strengthen the preparedness of the campus community.

Following the indoor session, participants joined an outdoor assessment of the campus fire protection system. The BPBD team inspected existing fire safety facilities and infrastructure as part of an initial evaluation of the implementation of the Building Fire Safety Management (MKKG) system. The assessment results are expected to serve as the basis for further strengthening fire safety measures across the campus.

Dhafiq Kurniawan, Director of Asset Optimization and Infrastructure at UNU Jogja, said the initiative reflects the university's commitment to creating a safe learning environment while strengthening disaster preparedness across its academic community. 

"Universities should not only serve as places of learning but also as safe environments that are prepared for potential disasters. Through our collaboration with BPBD Yogyakarta, we aim to foster a culture of preparedness so that everyone on campus understands how to respond effectively in emergency situations," Dhafiq said.

Through this collaboration, UNU Jogja hopes to strengthen not only its fire protection infrastructure but also a campus-wide culture of disaster awareness and preparedness. By enhancing knowledge, readiness, and emergency response capacity, the university seeks to build a safer, more resilient campus for everyone who studies and works within its community. [Latifah]