The Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) at Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) Yogyakarta hosted a visit from representatives of the Kotagede District leadership on Friday, October 4, 2024. The meeting, aimed at strengthening and intensifying the existing partnership, included Isniyarti Wuri Putranti, S.I.P., M.P.A., Head of the Welfare Division of Kotagede District, and Kudup Nawangsasi, S.P., Deputy District Head of Kotagede. They engaged in a focused discussion with UKDW leaders, including UKDW Rector Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih, S.T., M.T.; Head of LPPM Dr. Freddy M. R. Nainggolan, S.T., M.T., IAI; Head of the Information Systems Department, Halim B. Santoso, Ph.D.; Head of the Product Design Program, Winta T. Satwikasanti, Ph.D.; Head of the Bureau of Cooperation and Public Relations, Dr. Phil. Lucia D. Krisnawati; and Product Design Lecturer Kristian Oentoro, S.Ds., M.Ds.
In her opening remarks, UKDW Rector Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih highlighted the special role of Kotagede as a “living laboratory” for UKDW. “Several collaborative studies have already been conducted in partnership with Purbayan Village in Kotagede. We encourage future efforts to focus on more technical and specific challenges, particularly those related to design and information systems,” she said. She also outlined the roles of various interdisciplinary centers at UKDW, such as the Center for Disability and Inclusive Design and the Center for Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development.
Kudup Nawangsasi expressed gratitude for the ongoing collaboration, emphasizing the positive impact UKDW has had on local initiatives. “Purbayan Tourism Village ranked in the top 100 largely thanks to the contributions of UKDW’s community service students. Some competition elements were produced by UKDW students—we simply took the photos and uploaded them,” she explained. She expressed hope that the partnership would continue to foster valuable innovations, particularly in connection with the Teko Perakku (My Silver Teapot) initiative.
Isniyarti elaborated on the reasons behind the push to enhance collaboration with UKDW, citing the challenges faced by Kotagede as a silvercraft hub. “Kotagede is struggling with classic issues, such as the rising cost of silver raw materials and weakening competitiveness, which have led to layoffs,” she said. She added that these layoffs have disrupted the transmission of skills across generations, leading to a shift in professions. Isniyarti warned that Kotagede’s reputation as a center of silver craftsmanship could fade if these issues are not addressed promptly, underscoring the need for deeper collaboration with UKDW to inspire new innovations.
Kotagede has been working closely with UKDW’s Faculty of Architecture and Design (FAD) to develop the Tourism Village, deploy students for community service, and conduct research. Kristian Oentoro, a Product Design lecturer currently pursuing his Ph.D., stated, “Kotagede serves as a living lab for my research at UKDW.” His dissertation, which explores “Sustainable Craft Design Collaboration in Tourism Villages”, is directly tied to the work of Kotagede’s silver artisans. “Through this collaboration, I hope we can revive the competitive spirit of Kotagede’s silver artisans, helping them not only sell their products but also create a distinct identity for them,” he concluded. [humasukde/trans.drr]