Center for World Trade Studies Universitas Gadjah Mada (PSPD UGM) in collaboration with the Center for Agrotechnology Innovation Gadjah Mada University (PIAT UGM) and Janitra Bhumi Indonesia Education Consulting held a competition for elementary school principals entitled "Indonesia Green Principal Award 2022". This program was carried out on January 20-22, 2022. It is marked as the initial stage of developing circular economy-based schools in Indonesia, which was attended by 22 principals of Muhammadiyah Elementary Schools and Madrasah Ibtidaiyah throughout Central Java.
Circular economy is an important theme in this program because it is in line with Indonesia’s position as the second most waste-producing country in the world after China. Presently, the "make-use-waste" linear economic culture is still widely applied by most Indonesians. In fact, this culture can cause adverse impacts on various aspects, ranging from the ecological system, society, to Indonesia's economic growth. Therefore, a solution is urgently needed to reduce and avoid problems that can possibly occur, namely in the form of developing and implementing a circular economy in society. In this case, the participation of the principal as the leader of an educational community is the key in the transformation process to become an agent of change.
The IGPA 2022 activity took place at PIAT UGM for 3 (three) days. The first day of this activity was divided into 3 (three) sessions. First, the opening session of the event was hosted by the drg. Ika Dewi Ana, M.Kes., Ph.D as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gadjah Mada and Dr. Ir. Taryono, M.SC as the Director of PIAT UGM. The second session, "Introduction to Circular Economics Panel" was led by Dr. Riza Noer Arfani as Director of PSPD UGM, Dr. Wahyu Chandra Purnomo, M.Eng. as Deputy Director of PIAT UGM, and Dr. Tri Mulyani Sunarharum from the Faculty of Engineering UGM. The first day's activities ended with a workshop session with the theme of “Initiating a Circular Economic School” presented by Dr. Junita Widiati Arfani from JBI Education Consulting and Suci Lestari Yuana, Ph.D. Cand. from Utrecht University, Netherlands.
On the second day, IGPA 2022 participants visited 3 (three) local institutions, those are PT. YPTI, SMAN 11 Yogyakarta, and several startups assisted by PT. YPTI. PT. YPTI is one of the first Indonesian-owned companies engaged in checking all exterior and interior body equipment in the automotive sector in Indonesia. In this program, the principals were welcomed by a presentation on "People, Planet, Profit" which was delivered by Mr. Petrus Tedja Hapsoro as Director of PT. YPTI Yogyakarta. Participants also went on a tour to see the products produced by PT. YPTI, such as Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) and other processed plastic products. After that, the participants visited SMAN 11 Yogyakarta which implemented a water management system program. The second day's activities ended by taking a look at the startup assisted by PT. YPTI, Stechoq and Helber, which are engaged in lego robotics, and INASTEK which makes products for automation engineering, particularly in the agro-industry sector, such as RVM and hydroponics.
On the last day, participants made a business model canvas and had a discussion with Rendy Aditya Wachid, B. Arch., MBA, as CEO and Founder of Parongpong RAW Lab, Bandung. Parongpong is a "zero landfills waste" management company that possesses a system design for each stakeholder to be able to carry out the 5Rs, which includes Refusing, Reusing, Reducing, Recycling, and Rethinking waste. The IGPA 2022 program ended with a closing by Dr. Riza Noer Arfani and awarding session for school principals. Through this program, CWTS expects that the participants, the principals of Muhammadiyah Elementary School and Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, can further develop and apply the concept of a circular economy in their education units.
