UNS – The Environmental Science Department of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta received a visit from Universitas Ivet (UNISVET) Semarang on Friday (26/4/2024). The delegation, led by Isti Mulyawati, S.K.M., M.Kes., the Chair of the Environmental Science Department at Unisvet, was welcomed by the Head of the Environmental Science Department at FMIPA UNS, Prof. Dr. Prabang Setyono, S.Si., M.Si., along with his team, in the Senate Meeting Room of the Soetomo Darsowiratmo FMIPA UNS Building.

In her remarks, Isti stated that the purpose of this visit was to conduct a study visit related to the curriculum development plans of the Environmental Science Department at Unisvet. Additionally, it aimed to delve deeper into the teaching methods and practices applied at FMIPA UNS.

“We express our gratitude for being warmly welcomed. The purpose of this visit is to conduct a study visit related to the curriculum development plans of the program that we manage,” Isti said.

Equally important, according to Isti, is finding strategies to increase the interest of high school graduates in choosing Environmental Science as their major. One of the challenges of development is the number of students, which is still far from expectations.

Meanwhile, Prof. Prabang Setyono, as the Head of the Environmental Science Department at FMIPA UNS, welcomed the delegation from the Environmental Science Department of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Unisvet. Responding to Isti Mulyawati’s remarks, Prof. Prabang expressed hope for building networks so that development could occur collectively.

Currently, there is the Environmental Science Study Program Association (PEPSILI, or Perkumpulan Program Studi Ilmu Lingkungan), which is an organization facilitating collaboration among all Environmental Science Study Programs in Indonesia. PEPSILI is a non-profit organization serving as an institutional framework and a platform for advancing and developing Environmental Science based on the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.

According to Prof. Prabang, the establishment of Environmental Science Departments is a demand of the times, as environmental issues are currently predominant. “I believe that someday Environmental Science Departments will become a favorite choice in accordance with the demands of the times,” Prabang concluded. Humas UNS