SDG 16 In Number
Number of graduates
6,192
Number of graduates from law and enforcement related courses
1,509
16.2.2 Students' Union
Empowering Students through an Independent Student Union: BEM UNS as a Driver of Governance, Support, and Social Engagement
Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) recognizes the importance of fostering student engagement and participation in campus governance through an independent students’ union. The Students’ Union at UNS, represented by the Student Executive Board (BEM UNS), serves as a vital platform for students to voice their needs, contribute to decision-making, access support, and participate in social activities, aligning with the principles of peace, justice, and strong institutions.
BEM as an Independent Student Union
The Student Executive Board of Universitas Sebelas Maret (BEM UNS) is a university-level student organization that plays a critical role in coordinating student aspirations, enhancing student engagement, and promoting positive change within the campus and broader community. As a forum that amplifies the needs and perspectives of students, BEM UNS is responsible for creating a dynamic, progressive, and socially responsive academic environment.
BEM UNS aims to develop the potential of UNS students across academic and non-academic domains. Through its programs, BEM UNS fosters an inclusive campus environment, supports diversity, and provides a platform for students to express their opinions. The organization serves not only as a representative body but also as a facilitator for activities that enhance academic quality, leadership, and social skills.
BEM UNS regularly organizes programs and activities involving students from various faculties, including public discussions, seminars, leadership training, social actions, and awareness campaigns. Topics often cover politics, human rights, the environment, and sustainable development, facilitating critical discourse among students.
Governance Input to the University
BEM UNS acts as a key governance partner, regularly conveying student aspirations to university leadership. Officially recognized as a Student Activity Unit (UKM) on the UNS website, BEM UNS provides critical input on academic policies, student regulations, campus facilities, and overall student welfare. Mechanisms such as coordination meetings, audiences with the rectorate, and publicized action plans ensure students have an active voice in campus governance.
In May 2024, approximately one hundred students from Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) representing the Student Executive Board (BEM UNS) staged a protest against the university’s tuition and institutional development fees. The students, representing various faculties, approached the Rectorate building with banners highlighting concerns over the commercialization of education and high tuition fees, demonstrating their role as an independent student union actively advocating for student interests.
During the subsequent audience with university leadership, BEM UNS presented eight formal demands, including a review of tuition fee regulations, the removal of the highest tuition category, increased transparency in fee determination, and improved access to education for students from diverse economic backgrounds. The union also requested enhanced transparency in the allocation of funds, equitable use of campus facilities, and adjustments to administrative processes related to tuition.
Through this engagement, BEM UNS provided structured governance input to the university, ensuring that student perspectives were taken into account in policy decisions. University officials responded to each demand, confirming that there would be no tuition fee increase for 2024 while addressing concerns regarding transparency and access. This interaction exemplifies the union’s function as a conduit between students and decision-makers, reinforcing participatory governance and accountability at UNS.
Support for Students
BEM UNS actively supports students through academic, social, and well-being initiatives.
- Mental Health Weeks 2024
From September 30 to October 26, 2024, the Student Executive Board of Universitas Sebelas Maret (BEM UNS) organized Mental Health Weeks 2024 to commemorate World Mental Health Day on October 10. This month-long initiative aimed to support the mental well-being of students and the wider community by raising awareness and providing accessible mental health resources.
The activities included faculty-based awareness sessions, visits to mental health facilities for persons with mental disorders (ODGJ) in Surakarta, open booths at Car Free Day events in Solo, seminars such as “Aku Rapopo”, art therapy workshops, and peer support sessions (curhat) with psychologists from the Faculty of Psychology. These programs enabled students to access professional guidance, engage in discussions about mental health, and participate in activities designed to reduce stigma and promote well-being.
Through Mental Health Weeks 2024, BEM UNS demonstrated its role as an independent students’ union that provides direct support for students. By facilitating educational, therapeutic, and peer-support initiatives, the union actively contributed to the welfare of students and fostered a culture of care and awareness on campus and in the surrounding community.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DCiKLb0yc-O/?img_index=5
- Environmental Dialogue and Green Campus Outreach: “Circular Economy for a Sustainable Planet”.
On Saturday, October 5, 2024, the Student Executive Board of Universitas Sebelas Maret (BEM UNS), in collaboration with the Sub Directorate of Green Campus and Sustainable Development Goals, organized the event Environmental Dialogue and Green Campus Outreach: “Circular Economy for a Sustainable Planet”. The event focused on the principles of the circular economy and its role in promoting environmental sustainability. Speakers included Murtanti Jani Rahayu, Head of the Sub-Directorate of Green Campus and Sustainable Development Goals, and Sardiman, a wayang kristal artist and advocate for the circular economy.
The program educated students and the broader community on how circular economy practices can reduce waste, maximize resource utilization, create economic opportunities, and foster innovation. Attendees learned practical ways to implement sustainable behaviors in their daily lives, including reducing the use of single-use plastics and adopting responsible consumption practices.
Through this initiative, BEM UNS demonstrated its role as an independent students’ union that actively supports students by providing educational opportunities and raising awareness on sustainability issues. The program strengthened students’ knowledge and engagement in environmentally responsible practices, contributing to UNS’s commitment to sustainable development and education related to the SDGs.
- Inspirational Session #01 – BEM UNS 2024
On Friday, October 3, 2024, the Student Executive Board of Universitas Sebelas Maret (BEM UNS) held Inspirational Session #01 as part of its 2025 program, providing a learning and sharing platform for students. The session, themed “First Step, Best Step: Designing Life as a University Student”, featured Khusna Wakhidakh, a top-achieving student (Mapres 2 UNS 2023) and an inspirational participant in the National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS), as the speaker.
Conducted via Instagram Live, the program allowed students across UNS to access guidance, tips, and motivation for academic and organizational development. By connecting students with peers who have excelled academically and in leadership, BEM UNS fostered learning, mentorship, and inspiration.
Through initiatives like Inspirational Session #01, BEM UNS demonstrates its role as an independent students’ union that actively supports students by providing knowledge-sharing platforms, personal development opportunities, and engagement in academic and organizational growth.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPWRQQDgTPH/
Social Activities
BEM UNS organizes a range of social and community engagement activities, including training sessions, cultural workshops, public dialogues, and advocacy campaigns. BEM UNS maintains an active presence on social media to share programs and encourage student participation, strengthening the union’s role in campus life beyond academics.
- Basic Level Sign Language Training
On Monday, June 24, 2024, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) organized a Basic Level Sign Language Training in collaboration with the Disability Study Center (PSD) of LPPM UNS, the Indonesian Sign Language Center (Pusbisindo) of Central Java, and the Student Executive Board (BEM UNS). The program, held at the Haris Mudjiman Building, aimed to enhance inclusivity on campus by providing staff and students with the skills to communicate effectively with persons with disabilities. The training included five study groups with multiple sessions, covering topics such as university policies for students with disabilities, interpreter competencies, and an orientation to Pusbisindo services.
The training emphasized the role of students and staff in fostering an inclusive campus environment. Participants learned to provide more effective services and academic support for students with disabilities, while also promoting awareness and social responsibility within the university community. UNS leadership, including Prof. Muhtar and Prof. Fitria Rahmawati, highlighted the university’s commitment to equitable services and acknowledged PSD UNS’s contributions to promoting inclusion, such as awards and recognition in national competitions.
BEM UNS played a key role in this initiative through its Ministry of Advocacy and Student Welfare (Adkesma), demonstrating the union’s commitment to organizing social activities that support student welfare and inclusivity. By collaborating in the training, BEM UNS provided a platform for students to develop social awareness, practical skills, and peer support networks, reinforcing the union’s function as an independent student body that actively engages in social initiatives on campus.
Source: https://uns.ac.id/en/uns-strengthens-inclusive-campus-identity-with-sign-language-training/
- UNS Mengajar 2024
In 2024, the Student Executive Board of Universitas Sebelas Maret (BEM UNS) through its Ministry of Social and Community Affairs (Sosma) organized UNS Mengajar 2024, an outreach program aimed at improving the quality of education in rural areas of Boyolali Regency, specifically in Genting and Lencoh villages. The program, themed “Igniting Literacy, Building the Character of the Golden Generation 2045: Towards a Sustainable Education Future”, engaged students, local communities, and youth to address educational disparities between urban and rural areas.
A total of 55 UNS student volunteers, selected from 300 applicants, participated in two weeks of activities in August 2024. The program focused on primary education, with volunteers teaching at several elementary schools and conducting community activities such as legal counseling, organic fertilizer training, zakat distribution, preparation for Independence Day carnivals, and various youth development activities. These initiatives strengthened community engagement, enhanced students’ social awareness, and provided tangible benefits to local residents, especially children and underprivileged groups.
Through UNS Mengajar 2024, BEM UNS demonstrated its role as an independent students’ union that organizes social activities extending beyond the campus. By mobilizing volunteers, facilitating community learning, and promoting civic responsibility, the union actively supports students’ personal development and fosters positive social impact in the wider community, aligning with the principles of SDG 16.
BEM UNS exemplifies the function of an independent students’ union by providing governance input, supporting students, and facilitating social activities. Through active engagement, structured programs, and inclusive platforms, BEM UNS empowers students to act as agents of positive change, contributing to the development of strong, accountable, and participatory institutions at UNS.