Brief History

Unsustainable development has been abandoned by all countries worldwide because it causes the disparity between the rich and the poor, which in turn degrades the environment. Another growing issue caused by unsustainable development is the close relations between development, environment, and poverty. Blaikie (1985) even went as far as calling the close relations between poverty and the environment degradation a ‘desperate ecocide’ for the poor to describe the huge risk of unsustainable development for the future of mankind.

Although the shift from the conventional development paradigm to the sustainable development happened almost three decades ago, the reality shows that poverty and the destruction of environment still occur in various corners of the world. Some experts conclude that the root of the problem is in the understanding about the concept of sustainability. To date, the practical aspect of the sustainability concept still faces more challenges compared to its rhetoric. The concept of sustainable development tends to become a political instrument rather than as a real commitment for developing the economy without sacrificing the environment. This can be seen from the present condition happening in many countries in that many regulations and legislations about the protection and management environment have been enacted, yet the environmental degradation continues to happen.

As human become more dependent on the natural and environmental resources, the various problems faced by people become more complex and interconnected. This situation is worsened by the changes in human lifestyles that become increasingly more consumptive as well as the changes in the climate. This situation causes humans and other inhabitants of the Earth to be at sustainability crisis.

This sustainability crisis demands an effort in searching for a solution that is not only multidisciplinary but also integrated, having a strong collaboration among all parties involved in knowledge development, development practitioners, and the society in general.

This approach means a transdisciplinary approach requiring a collaboration between science and knowledge that develops outside the boundaries of science. This transdisciplinary approach in facing the various problems related to the sustainable environment issues is expected to bring a comprehensive transformation among the stakeholders. In turn, this change can transform mankind into a sustainable society.

Recent global deals penned in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are expected to reaffirm the commitment of countries worldwide to develop better and with a stronger commitment to protect the environment. However, this commitment still faces various, complex, and interconnected challenges, containing elements of uncertainty. Therefore, success in achieving the SDGs targets also requires a transdisciplinary approach.

The higher education sector is expected to contribute to the realization of the aforementioned changes. This sector is responsible for all impacts emerging as the consequence of knowledge and technology developments that cause sustainability crisis. Nowadays, the higher education is expected not only to produce graduates that are academically superior, but also to give real social impact. Therefore, the higher education needs to develop teaching and learning processes that are oriented to solution seeking for various man-made problems. The higher education should build a curriculum that can upgrade the public ability to utilise natural resources, not only to fulfil their basic needs but also to look after earth life support system. Thus, the higher education has the obligation to produce human resources who are capable of building sustainably.

The establishment of Master of Sustainability Sciences Profile Program is meant to change the perspectives of academics, students, development practitioners, and society in general in understanding the interaction between humans and their environment in a sustainable context. More specifically, the existence of this study program is expected to produce graduates who have holistic mindset, who are able to apply the transdisciplinary approach, and who appreciate diversity. The end purpose of the establishment of this study program is to contribute to the effort of creating sustainable societies.

Although to date there are no similar study programs as the Master of Sustainability Sciences Profile Study Program founded in Universitas Padjadjaran, since the beginning of its establishment this study program has considered its uniqueness. This was done by blending the existing issues in SDGs, Nawacita, and 10 West Java Common Goals contained in Pola Ilmiah Pokok Unpad “Bina Mulia Hukum dan Lingkungan dalam Pembangunan Nasional” (Unpad Principal Scientific Framework “Bina Mulia Law and Environment in the National Development”).

Based on the aforementioned descriptions, the Graduate School of Universitas Padjadjaran established the Master of Sustainability Sciences Profile Study Program appointed by the Rector of Universitas Padjadjaran (Decree Number 734/UN6.RKT/Kep/HK/2016) regarding the establishment of Master of Sustainability Sciences Profile Study Program at Strata-2, Graduate School of Universitas Padjadjaran) on May 16, 2016.

Scientific Vision

To become a pioneering study program in mainstreaming sustainable developments through transformative education, based on transdisciplinary research and with national, regional, and international competitiveness by 2024

Study Program Performance

To make it easier for students to get the academic atmosphere of meeting with national and international researchers and to help them publish their research results in Scopus-indexed journals and proceedings, the study program organizes the International Conference on Sustainability Science (ICSS) biennially. In this event, students are involved as participants as well as the organizing committee so that their ability to communicate, plan, and organize activities can be practiced. This event also develops students’ academic ability to present their plans and research results and to respond to various suggestions from other participants in an international-scale event. Additionally, students can learn how to publish an international article through Scopus-indexed international proceedings before writing articles for reputable international journals.

The Community Service Program (Kegiatan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat or PKM) is done regularly every semester by students, and this is a part of the field practicum activity (9 credits) in semester 2.

Various activities conducted by the study program are as follows.

The 3rd International Conference on Sustainability Science (The 3rd ICSS)

Activities in 2020: webinar and the 4th ICSS

Sustainability Research on Various Production System In Cisokan West Bandung Regency

Sustainability Research on Madu Kelulut Production System in Sumedang District

International Benchmarks

The University of Tokyo Japan and United Nation University Japan.