UNU Jogja Joins the UN Global Compact, Strengthening Global Collaboration on Sustainability

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) officially joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) on 29 October 2026. This United Nations (UN) initiative encourages organisations and businesses to adopt sustainability principles, social responsibility, and responsible business practices. With this membership, UNU Jogja becomes part of a global network comprising more than 20,000 business entities from various countries.

Client Relations Manager of UNGC Network Indonesia, Agnes Oktavia I.D., said that UNU Jogja was well qualified to join the UNGC. According to her, UNU Jogja's focus on decarbonisation and sustainability, supported by the establishment of the Decarbonomics Center, represents a relevant strength in relation to the UNGC agenda.

“In the Indonesian network, only five universities are currently members of the IGCN. Four are located in Jakarta: Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Trisakti, Unika Atma Jaya, and BINUS. The other one is located in Yogyakarta, namely UNU Jogja,” she said on Tuesday, 3 November.

She explained that the Indonesia Global Compact Network (IGCN), as the UNGC's national network in Indonesia, has four main pillars to support companies in implementing sustainable business practices. The first is Connected, which links companies with communities, partners, and various collaboration opportunities to create collective impact. The second is Learn, which focuses on building knowledge and capacity through learning activities and the provision of practical tools.

The third pillar is Lead, which encourages companies to take on leadership roles and inspire broader positive impact. The fourth is Communicate, which helps companies transparently communicate their sustainability progress and achievements, thereby building trust among stakeholders.

“We see that UNU Jogja has established partnerships with various companies and implemented a number of impactful programmes involving students and communities,” she said.

In response, Director of the UNU Jogja Decarbonomics Center, Tri Susdinarjanti, explained that the university's UNGC membership was based on its commitment and initiatives to advance decarbonisation and sustainability. According to her, UNU Jogja holds a strategic position as the only university in Yogyakarta with a dedicated institutional initiative, in the form of a study centre, focusing specifically on these two issues.

“Our competitive advantage lies in UNU Jogja's strong commitment to decarbonisation and sustainability,” she said.

In addition to its commitment to sustainability, UNU Jogja's experience in collaborating with various companies was also a consideration in the membership selection process. Tri explained that, in advancing decarbonisation and sustainability, the UNU Jogja Decarbonomics Center has pursued collaborations with PT Inovasi Karbon Klinik (Clinovate Carbon), the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, and PT Recoolit Bumi Lestari Indonesia.

Furthermore, she explained that UNU Jogja's UNGC membership represents a strategic step towards expanding its collaborative networks while strengthening the contribution of higher education institutions to sustainable development agendas at both national and global levels.

Tri added that through this membership, UNU Jogja would become part of the IGCN network, which comprises 209 business entities in Indonesia. Within this network, UNU Jogja will also serve as a Knowledge Partner, participating in various UNGC agendas and initiatives in Indonesia.

“UNU Jogja's involvement as a Knowledge Partner provides opportunities for us to strengthen collaboration in education, knowledge development, and sustainability initiatives with other network members around the world,” she said.

Beyond its institutional benefits, this membership also creates learning opportunities for UNU Jogja students and lecturers. Students will be able to access online learning resources through IGCN Academy, while lecturers will have opportunities to integrate sustainability issues into the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi).

“Going forward, UNU Jogja students and lecturers will be involved, particularly through the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education,” she explained.

At the implementation level, the UNU Jogja Decarbonomics Center will also participate in the Working Group on Climate & Just Transition within IGCN. This working group serves as a strategic collaboration platform for the private sector and companies in Indonesia to develop climate action that focuses not only on reducing emissions but also takes into account justice and social responsibility.

“This involvement provides an opportunity for the UNU Jogja Decarbonomics team to expand collaborations, share knowledge, and contribute to discussions and initiatives related to climate and sustainability agendas,” she added.

Tri hopes that UNU Jogja's membership in the UNGC will expand opportunities for cross-institutional collaboration, strengthen the ecosystem for sustainable learning, and encourage greater involvement from the university's academic community in addressing various global development challenges. In this way, the commitment to sustainability will not only grow at the institutional level but also become an integral part of education, research, and community engagement. []

Reporter: Latifah