River Cleaning as Environmental Education and ASEAN Academic Diplomacy: A Collaborative Community Engagement Practice between Tunas Pembangunan University, Surakarta and Sultan Idris Shah Polytechnic, Malaysia
Abstract
Urban river management faces increasing challenges due to urbanization, domestic waste, and limited community participation. This study analyzes the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) River Cleaning program as a model of experiential environmental education and regional academic diplomacy within a collaboration between Universitas Tunas Pembangunan Surakarta and Sultan Idris Shah Polytechnic, Malaysia. A qualitative case study approach was employed using participatory observation, documentation, and participant reflections during activities conducted in Kali Anyar, Surakarta. Thematic analysis was applied to identify patterns of experiential learning, cross-cultural interaction, and institutional relationships. The findings reveal that the program provided concrete experiences that enabled students to connect technical concepts such as stormwater management and flood control with real urban river conditions. Field experiences also encouraged reflection on the relationship between community behavior, drainage systems, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, cross-national interactions fostered academic dialogue and expanded the role of academic visits into action-based collaborative engagement involving local communities. This study proposes a three-dimensional collaborative engagement model consisting of academic exchange, environmental action, and institutional diplomacy. The model demonstrates that community engagement can serve as an integrative platform for contextual learning, environmental action, and academic diplomacy in supporting sustainable development.
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