Climate Action

UNESA runs local education programmes on climate change

Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA) ran a local education programme on flood risk and its mitigation in Desa Kedungbanteng, Sidoarjo, on 11 July 2026, in which students of its Geography Education study programme mapped flood-prone areas with residents, taught drainage and the role of vegetation in absorbing water, and planted trees with the village youth organisation (S1 Pendidikan Geografi, 2026). UNESA's 2025 impact report adds 14 environmental rehabilitation and restoration programmes carried out in 2025, some of them beyond the campus with government, communities and partners, which it describes as part of climate adaptation and environmental education (Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2026).

Local education programmes on climate change

Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA) ran a local education programme on flood risk and its mitigation in Desa Kedungbanteng, Kecamatan Tanggulangin, Kabupaten Sidoarjo, on Saturday 11 July 2026, through the student association of its Geography Education study programme, in a community service activity titled "Flood Risk Mitigation through Sustainable Greening and Community Empowerment" (S1 Pendidikan Geografi, 2026). Students in four working groups talked with residents door to door and in focus group discussions to map flood-prone areas, explained what a good drainage system is and stressed the role of vegetation as a natural water absorber (S1 Pendidikan Geografi, 2026). The day included a tree-planting action accompanied by the secretary of the village youth organisation (Karang Taruna) (S1 Pendidikan Geografi, 2026). A student representative said the aim was to ask residents to keep protecting trees, whose roots absorb water and so reduce flood risk, and to stay prepared for disasters before the rainy season; residents welcomed the education and hoped similar programmes would continue (S1 Pendidikan Geografi, 2026). The study programme linked the activity to SDG 11 and SDG 13, and described its purpose as strengthening local resilience to hydrometeorological disaster risk (S1 Pendidikan Geografi, 2026).

UNESA carried out 14 environmental rehabilitation and restoration programmes during 2025, which the impact report says include activities outside the campus in collaboration with government, communities and partners (PDF page 70) (Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2026). The report's infographic (Figure 53, PDF page 70) breaks the 14 down as 5 tree planting or reforestation programmes, 2 restoration of forest, mangrove, river, lake or coast, 3 development of green open space, 2 erosion or flood control, 1 biodiversity conservation and 1 other programme (sustainable agriculture), and says all were run alone or together with government, industry, communities and strategic partners (Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2026). The programmes include the Campus 5 Magetan greening movement, tree planting for World Environment Day with the Magetan regional leadership forum (Forkopimda), rehabilitation of the Brantas watershed (DAS), faculty greening, planting with new students, participation in the East Java Mangrove Festival and a mangrove protection and management programme (PDF pages 71 and 72) (Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2026). The report states that the added vegetation raises carbon absorption, improves air quality, lowers surface temperature and strengthens rainwater infiltration as part of climate adaptation, and that the programmes build awareness that protecting the environment is part of education (PDF pages 71 and 74) (Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2026).

UNESA also teaches climate topics to its own students. In academic year 2025 it ran 215 courses that contain sustainability and biodiversity material, among them courses on climate change mitigation and adaptation, renewable energy and conservation, spread across faculties (PDF pages 75 and 76) (Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2026). The infographic (Figure 60) gives climate change as the main theme of 3 of the 215 courses, and renewable energy 23, conservation 29 and sustainable development 65 (Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2026).

Infographic of UNESA's 14 environmental rehabilitation and restoration programmes in 2025 by type, Figure 53 of the impact report. (Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2026)

Infographic of the 215 sustainability and biodiversity courses in academic year 2025 by theme and level, Figure 60 of the impact report. (Universitas Negeri Surabaya, 2026)

Further evidence

UNESA provides local climate education on flood risk, water conservation and coastal preparedness. In 2025, Sociology students, the Faculty of Psychology and the Mitigation Crisis Center worked with schools, residents and coastal communities on practical adaptation activities.

At SMP Negeri 63 Surabaya on 20 November 2025, UNESA students facilitated a session for 24 pupils from the school’s biopori working group in Grades 7-9. Discussion, questions and a quiz connected flood prevention and water scarcity with the school community’s responsibilities. Pupils then practised making biopori infiltration holes, installing pipes and adding organic material. The activity formed part of the Community Empowerment course, supervised by UNESA lecturers, with support from Yayasan Menabung Air.

A second programme at SMAN 22 Surabaya on 25 November 2025 combined a lesson on water conservation with hands-on biopori installation for Grade X-1 pupils. UNESA and Yayasan Menabung Air explained how the technique helps rainwater enter the soil and reduces surface runoff. Participants discussed its possible use around their homes, extending the lesson beyond the school grounds.

Local residents were also involved. At Kampung Peneleh on 28 November 2025, UNESA Sociology students and the foundation held a community session on waterlogging and rainwater infiltration in a densely populated neighbourhood. Residents discussed suitable installation sites, soil conditions and maintenance before practising the technique. These school and neighbourhood activities gave local audiences opportunities to understand flood-related risks and learn adaptation measures they could apply themselves.

Coastal outreach broadened this work. At the East Java Mangrove Festival VIII on 3 November 2025 in Martajasah, Bangkalan, SMCC UNESA used an interactive exhibition to explain preparedness for coastal disasters and actions communities can take in response to climate-change impacts. The provincial-government event brought together coastal residents, environmental communities and public institutions. This is direct evidence of climate-adaptation education reaching audiences outside the university.

Earlier, on 19 August 2025, Psychology students through SEDJIWA and SMCC joined mangrove planting and environmental education for school pupils at Pantai Bahak, Probolinggo. The university’s event report records a delegation of 10 students drawn from SMCC, the humanitarian student organisation and Psychology. That figure describes UNESA’s delegation, not the number of community beneficiaries. Together, the two festivals add coastal learning to the school and neighbourhood water-conservation programmes.

On 11 July 2026 in Kedungbanteng, Sidoarjo, UNESA Geography students used household visits and group discussions to identify flood-prone areas and explain drainage and the role of vegetation in water infiltration. Residents also joined in tree planting. This community programme connected local flood-risk awareness with practical preparedness and environmental care.

The Faculty of Vocational Studies contributed learning-media development. An article published on 15 April 2026 describes Graphic Design student Khayfa Ef Alam’s visual design for a flood-mitigation animation for young children.

The animation is designed to use child-friendly characters and familiar settings to introduce flood hazards and basic evacuation steps.