UNISSULA Cooperation with Government and International Partners on Water Security

Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) works with government institutions and international academic partners to address water-security challenges, particularly flooding, drainage, water conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable urban water management.

During 2025, this cooperation involved local government, regional government, national government agencies, and international partners. The activities ranged from practical flood-response operations in Kaligawe to infrastructure development, retention systems, pumping, and international knowledge exchange on wastewater management and water conservation.

Cooperation with the Semarang City Government

At the local level, UNISSULA cooperated with the Semarang City Government in responding to flooding and standing water in the Kaligawe area.

On 3 February 2025, UNISSULA conducted a community-service activity on the Pantura road in front of Sultan Agung Islamic Hospital to help remove floodwater and restore traffic movement. The activity involved cooperation with the Semarang City Government, Sultan Agung Islamic Hospital, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the Indonesian National Police. UNISSULA also operated a large-capacity pump as part of the response.

This cooperation demonstrates practical engagement with local government on urban flood-water management.

Flood-Control Infrastructure in Kaligawe

The cooperation extended beyond emergency pumping.

In October 2025, the Mayor of Semarang inspected the construction of a 227-metre flood diversion channel within the UNISSULA/YBWSA environment and visited five retention ponds with a combined storage capacity of approximately 125,485 m³.

These facilities are designed to improve water retention and drainage in an area that regularly experiences flooding and tidal inundation.

The involvement of the city government alongside university-supported infrastructure demonstrates a practical partnership in improving local water security and reducing flood risk.

Cooperation with the Central Java Provincial Government

At the regional level, UNISSULA has formal cooperation with the Government of Central Java Province.

A joint agreement between UNISSULA and the Provincial Government of Central Java was signed on 17 March 2025 to support regional development through education, research, training, community service, human-resource development, and other agreed areas.

This wider institutional cooperation provides a framework for collaboration on regional challenges, including environmental resilience and disaster management.

The water-security dimension became particularly visible during the major Semarang flooding in late 2025.

Integrated Regional Flood Management

In November 2025, UNISSULA participated in high-level discussions concerning flood and tidal-flood management in the Semarang-Demak area.

A UNISSULA civil-engineering professor explained the contribution of UNISSULA and Yayasan Badan Wakaf Sultan Agung to flood mitigation in Kaligawe in the presence of the Vice President of Indonesia, Governor of Central Java, Mayor of Semarang, Head of BNPB, and other officials.

The university’s contributions included:

• flood diversion channels;
• temporary water-storage areas;
• pumping systems; and
• planned connection to the Terboyo retention-pond system.

This reflects UNISSULA’s participation in a broader regional response to flooding and coastal-water challenges.

Cooperation with the National Disaster Management Agency

At the national level, UNISSULA’s water-security activities are supported by cooperation with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

In October 2025, UNISSULA deployed two mobile pumps to help remove floodwater from Jalan Kaligawe. One of the pumping units used in the response was provided through BNPB support and had a pumping capacity of up to approximately 1,000 litres per second.

BNPB was also directly involved in the wider flood-response operation in Semarang.

On 2 November 2025, BNPB reported that emergency flood management in Semarang was being conducted in an integrated and structured manner under the coordination of BNPB and the Central Java Provincial Government, supported by relevant technical agencies.

The Kaligawe corridor and Terboyo retention area formed part of this wider emergency water-management effort.

Building Long-Term Flood Resilience

UNISSULA’s engagement with BNPB was not limited to emergency response.

Earlier discussions between BNPB leadership and UNISSULA had addressed the need for preventive measures, improved infrastructure, pumping capacity, and better coordination in dealing with recurring flooding in Kaligawe.

This provides continuity between disaster preparedness, emergency response, and longer-term flood-resilience planning.

International Cooperation with VIA University College Denmark

At the international level, UNISSULA also collaborates with VIA University College Denmark on water-related knowledge exchange and research.

In May 2025, lecturers from the Faculty of Engineering visited VIA University College Denmark as part of an ongoing international collaboration supported through Erasmus+.

The activities included learning and discussion on:

• household wastewater management separated from rainwater;
• green-wall systems and water utilisation;
• porous road technologies;
• tidal-flood management in coastal areas; and
• water-conservation methods designed to improve infiltration into the ground.

The UNISSULA team also visited Klimatorium in Lemvig, Denmark, a climate-adaptation research institution, as part of the programme.

Global Knowledge Exchange on Water Security

The Denmark collaboration strengthens UNISSULA’s international capacity in areas directly related to water security.

Knowledge gained through this collaboration is relevant to challenges faced in Semarang and the northern coast of Java, including:

• coastal flooding;
• tidal inundation;
• urban drainage;
• wastewater management;
• rainfall management;
• groundwater recharge; and
• climate-resilient infrastructure.

The cooperation is therefore an important part of UNISSULA’s broader global engagement on water-security and climate-adaptation issues.

Linking Local Action and International Knowledge

UNISSULA’s approach to water security combines practical intervention with research and knowledge exchange.

At the local and regional levels, the university contributes directly to flood-control and water-management infrastructure.

At the national level, it works alongside disaster-management institutions such as BNPB.

At the international level, it exchanges knowledge with universities and research institutions working on advanced water-management and climate-adaptation approaches.

This combination allows UNISSULA to connect international knowledge with local water challenges.