UNDIP, Gunungkidul (August 6, 2025) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) continues to expand its strategic contributions as a noble and valuable campus, particularly in regional development through multi-stakeholder collaboration. This commitment was demonstrated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between UNDIP and the Gunungkidul Regency Government, held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the Gunungkidul Regent’s meeting room. Also signing MoUs were UPN Veteran Yogyakarta and the Indonesia Digital Technology University (UTDI).
The signing was carried out directly by Gunungkidul Regent Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih, S.E., M.P., and attended by officials from the regional leadership coordination forum (Forkopimda), representatives from all local government departments, assistants, division heads, subdistrict representatives, and 25 representatives from universities across the Special Region of Yogyakarta and its surrounding areas. UNDIP was represented by Dr. Anggun Puspitarini Siswanto, S.T., Ph.D., Deputy Director for Cooperation.
The MoU marks the first step toward strengthening synergy between local government and universities in education, research, community service, and sustainable human resource development, particularly in Gunungkidul Regency.
We extend our gratitude and appreciation to Universitas Diponegoro and all partner universities for their commitment to supporting Gunungkidul’s development through education, research, and community service. We hope this agreement will not remain just on paper, but will be realized in concrete programs that deliver tangible benefits to the community,” Regent Endah said in her remarks.
The event also featured a presentation by Gunungkidul Regency’s Regional Secretary, Sri Suhartanta, S.IP., M.Si., outlining the 2025–2029 vision: “Building a Just, Prosperous, Sustainable, and Civilized Society.” This vision is supported by seven development strategies that cover education, health, food security, MSME empowerment, environmental sustainability, and responsive, digitally based governance.
Responding to the potential for collaboration, Dr. Anggun Puspitarini Siswanto stated that UNDIP is ready to support Gunungkidul through science-based innovations and community-oriented approaches.
“One example of UNDIP’s contributions ready for collaboration is the Psychology Service (Japsi), which is expected to help address various psychological and mental health issues in Gunungkidul Regency. In addition, UNDIP is also open to partnerships in technology, social humanities, and research- and innovation-based assistance,” she said.
Aligned with the pentahelix collaboration framework, the event also served as a forum for discussion between the Gunungkidul Regency Government and several universities. UPN Veteran Yogyakarta, for example, offered collaboration in rehabilitating former limestone mining areas as part of preserving the Gunung Sewu UNESCO Global Geopark. Meanwhile, UTDI expressed readiness to support digital transformation and the development of a smart city concept in Gunungkidul Regency.
UNDIP believes that inter-institutional collaboration is a key factor in addressing regional development challenges. This partnership is expected to produce measurable positive impacts, from enhancing human resource capacity and developing applied research to providing concrete solutions for social and economic issues in the community.
Through this MoU, UNDIP reaffirms its role as a research university that is adaptive and responsive to real-world challenges, in line with its vision of being a “Noble and Valuable Campus.” (Public Communication/ UNDIP/ DHW)