GOAL 1: No Poverty – SDGs Center UNP

Universitas Negeri Padang is committed to supporting Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty. Through our scholarship programs, financial assistance, and partnerships with local communities, we aim to reduce financial barriers to education and improve the well-being of students from low-income backgrounds. We believe that access to quality education is a fundamental right and a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty. Our campus policies are designed to foster an inclusive environment where all students have equal opportunity to thrive, regardless of their financial circumstances. UNP’s policies are:

Providing Financial Assistance and Scholarships
UNP is dedicated to removing financial barriers to education by offering scholarships and financial aid to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These programs help ensure that students have equal access to educational opportunities, allowing them to pursue their academic goals without financial burden. By investing in students’ education, UNP supports long-term economic empowerment and provides a path out of poverty for many families.

Supporting Community Economic Development
UNP actively engages in community outreach programs that promote economic development in local areas. Through partnerships with local organizations and government bodies, UNP faculty and students contribute to skill-building workshops, small business support, and vocational training. These initiatives help communities develop sustainable income sources, thereby strengthening local economies and reducing poverty.

Offering Employment Opportunities on Campus
To further support students in need, UNP provides part-time employment opportunities on campus, allowing students to earn income while completing their studies. These jobs offer valuable work experience and help students manage their financial needs without compromising their education. By creating an inclusive work environment, UNP empowers students to gain skills and financial stability.

Promoting Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
UNP encourages entrepreneurship and skill development as tools for poverty reduction. The university provides training programs in areas such as business management, digital skills, and vocational trades, equipping students and community members with skills that enhance employability and foster self-sufficiency. These programs empower individuals to create sustainable livelihoods and contribute to economic growth.

Providing Resources for Low-Income Students
In addition to financial aid, UNP offers various resources and support systems tailored to the needs of low-income students. This includes access to affordable housing, food assistance, and academic resources, ensuring a supportive environment where all students can thrive. By addressing the challenges that low-income students face, UNP promotes an inclusive campus where every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Engaging in Research on Poverty Alleviation
UNP supports research that addresses the root causes of poverty and explores sustainable solutions. Faculty and students engage in studies that examine issues such as income inequality, access to education, and community resilience. These research efforts contribute valuable insights that inform policy and support UNP’s goal of contributing to poverty reduction in the region.

Fostering Partnerships for Poverty Alleviation
UNP collaborates with local NGOs, government agencies, and international organizations to amplify its impact on poverty reduction. Through these partnerships, UNP is able to expand its programs, leverage resources, and engage in joint initiatives that address poverty-related challenges. These collaborations strengthen UNP’s efforts to create a more equitable society and support sustainable community development.

Activity and Documentations

UNP provides various schemes to help underprivileged students. These schemes include scholarships, dormitories, reduced and instalments of tuition fees and the determination of tuition fees according to parents’ ability. In 2023 the number of recipients of tuition waivers and installments was 1901 students.

UNP is committed to ensuring equitable access to education by implementing a tuition policy that adjusts fees based on each student’s financial capacity. This approach enables students from diverse economic backgrounds to pursue their studies without financial burden being a barrier. By considering the financial circumstances of each student, we aim to create an inclusive academic environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

UNP actively supports Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty, through dedicated research efforts aimed at understanding and addressing poverty-related issues. In 2023, our commitment to this goal is evidenced by the publication of 27 research documents indexed in Scopus, reflecting our ongoing contribution to the global fight against poverty. These studies are part of our broader strategy to create impactful solutions that improve quality of life and support sustainable development.

UNP is committed to addressing educational challenges, especially for students from marginalized areas and those from low-income backgrounds. Several initiatives that have been implemented to support these students are:

Tiered Tuition Policy: To ensure affordability, Universitas Negeri Padang has established a tiered tuition system divided into seven categories. Tuition fees range from IDR 500,000 in the first tier to IDR 7,000,000 in the seventh. The first and second tiers, set at IDR 500,000 and IDR 1,000,000, are specifically designated for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds (Link buat yang tahun 2023).
Scholarships for Low-Income Students: Scholarships are available for students in financial need, including the BAZNAS scholarship. This scholarship supports students who meet specific criteria, such as having a parent with an income below the minimum wage and maintaining an active role in social activities, in addition to meeting academic requirements. (Document Link)

In 2023, Universitas Negeri Padang awarded scholarships to a total of 9,905 students across both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. This significant figure represents 32 percent of the university’s 30,933 enrolled students (Document Link). By providing these scholarships, Universitas Negeri Padang demonstrates its dedication to supporting students from diverse backgrounds and enhancing their access to quality education. The scholarships reflect the university’s commitment to fostering academic success and empowering students to achieve their educational goals, regardless of financial challenges. Through initiatives like this, Universitas Negeri Padang aims to create a more inclusive learning environment that values and supports student achievement across all levels of study.

Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP) is not only committed to providing quality education but also realizes the importance of supporting underprivileged students in accessing higher education without obstacles. One of the concrete steps taken by UNP to realize this is by providing dormitory facilities for underprivileged students. With this dormitory, students no longer need to be burdened with the cost of renting off-campus housing that is too expensive. Information about UNP dormitories can be accessed on the UNP dormitory website https://asrama.unp.ac.id/.

University anti-poverty programmes

Local start-up assistance (mentorship programmes, training workshops, access to university facilities)

UNP provides assistance to the local community to demonstrate our high commitment to supporting the start-up of financially and socially sustainable businesses through relevant education or resources. UNP academics contributes to various community service (community engagement) programs by providing relevant education and resources including mentorship, training and workshops, as well as access to university facilities.