Rhino News Network

Intro paragraph  
Bogor, 20 June 2026 – Lecturers from the Management and Psychology programs at the University of Jakarta International (UNIJI) ran a community service program in Sentul, Bogor, teaching a local women’s group how to transform used cooking oil into eco‑friendly household products. This initiative strengthens UNIJI’s long‑term commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment through hands‑on education.

Circular Economy Training for “Ibu Tangguh Jakarta Raya”
Carrying the theme “Pemberdayaan Ibu Tangguh Jakarta Raya Melalui Pelatihan Pengolahan Minyak Jelantah Menjadi Eco‑Product Berbasis Circular Economy,” the workshop introduced practical circular‑economy concepts that participants can apply at home. Household waste, especially used cooking oil, was showcased as a resource that can be repurposed into eco‑friendly soap and candles rather than polluting the environment.
The four‑hour program, held from 08.00 to 12.00 WIB, began with welcoming remarks from UNIJI and the partner organization, followed by a short pre‑test to map participants’ initial understanding of sustainability and waste management. UNIJI lecturers then delivered an interactive session on environmental responsibility, the risks of improper used oil disposal for soil and water, and the potential of eco‑products as community‑based innovation.

Hands‑On Practice: From Used Oil to Eco‑Friendly Products
The highlight of the activity was a live demonstration and hands‑on practice session, where participants followed each production step, from preparing used cooking oil to turning it into simple, practical, and environmentally responsible products. Guided by UNIJI Management and Psychology lecturers, the group experimented with producing eco‑soap and candles, asking questions and sharing everyday experiences from their households.
Throughout the session, participants were encouraged to actively discuss, reflect, and connect sustainability concepts with real‑life behaviour, such as how they usually dispose of used oil and how eco‑products could be shared, sold, or replicated within their community. This approach reflects UNIJI’s education philosophy: combining solid theory with practical skills that create direct impact outside the classroom.

Measuring Impact and Encouraging Ongoing Action
To capture learning outcomes, the workshop concluded with a post‑test, allowing the team to compare participants’ understanding before and after the training. The program ended with closing remarks, reflections, and a group photo, symbolising a shared commitment to more responsible waste management and community‑led environmental action.
UNIJI hopes that the knowledge and skills gained during this workshop will continue to grow beyond the event. Participants are encouraged to develop eco‑product initiatives in their neighbourhoods, from small‑scale home use to potential micro‑business ideas, aligning with broader sustainability goals and circular‑economy practices.

UNIJI’s Ongoing Commitment to Community & Environment
This community service program is part of UNIJI’s wider UNIJI Cares for the Community & Environment initiatives, which consistently link academic expertise with real‑world impact.  By combining Management and Psychology perspectives, the team demonstrates how interdisciplinary education can support women’s empowerment, household‑level innovation, and sustainable lifestyles.
Through programs like this, UNIJI continues to show how higher education can serve local communities, support national sustainability agendas, and inspire young people to take action. Prospective students interested in sustainability, community development, or social innovation can learn more about UNIJI’s programs and initiatives via the Rhino News Network and the official UNIJI website at uniji.ac.id.
Congratulations to the UNIJI PkM team for designing and implementing this impactful workshop. UNIJI looks forward to expanding similar programs that connect education, sustainability, and community empowerment across Jakarta and other regions.

On Saturday, 20 June 2026, UNIJI Philanthropy Club students visited Panti Werdha Berea, a nursing home in West Jakarta, as part of the university’s ongoing community service and character-building activities. This program reflects UNIJI’s commitment to social responsibility by encouraging students to build empathy and strengthen connections with elderly residents in Jakarta.

Throughout the visit, UNIJI students and elderly residents took part in a series of interactive activities, including bracelet making, karaoke, and a dance session.The atmosphere was warm and cheerful from the start, with students and residents sitting together, chatting, and helping one another during the bracelet-making activity, turning a simple craft into an opportunity for deeper conversation and connection.

During karaoke, students and residents sang together and encouraged each other to take turns, creating a relaxed space where everyone felt comfortable participating.Several residents also joined the dance session, filling the room with laughter and energy and showing that fun, light physical activity can help bring different generations closer.

The event was led by Philanthropy Club President Joylynn and Vice President Ribby, who coordinated with Panti Werdha Berea and prepared the day’s activities. Together with other club members, they ensured the visit ran smoothly, from logistical arrangements to designing engaging programs that would be enjoyable and accessible for the elderly residents.

The residents were happy to welcome UNIJI students and actively participated in each activity, appreciating the attention, conversation, and companionship throughout the day. For many students, the visit was not only a chance to serve the community but also an opportunity to listen to life stories, make new friends, and gain a better understanding of the challenges and experiences of the older generation.

By the end of the program, both students and residents left with smiles on their faces, showing that simple activities and sincere conversations can create meaningful connections and brighten someone’s day. This visit illustrates how UNIJI’s student organizations contribute positively to the community and support the university’s mission to develop socially aware and caring graduates.

UNIJI congratulates the Philanthropy Club for organizing this memorable visit and for demonstrating the spirit of service to the elderly community in West Jakarta. UNIJI looks forward to more initiatives like this that strengthen UNIJI students’ character, enhance community engagement, and make a lasting positive impact on society.

From research to application, UNIJI Digital Business and Marketing students showcase their final exam projects in the Digital and E-Commerce Business Modelcourse.

Guided by lecturer Mochammad Riyadh Rizky Adam, S.T., M.S.M., CDM, CPM (Asia), students are challenged to create a platform or application that does not yet exist in Indonesia. The project reflects UNIJI’s commitment to giving students more than just theory in the classroom, but also practical skills and real experiences that they can carry into their future careers.

The journey starts from developing a business idea, followed by validation interviews using the Lean Startup Machine validation technique. Through this method, students directly approach potential users to present their ideas, explain how their applications work, and gather feedback from the community. The process helps students learn how to test whether an idea truly solves a problem and whether it is relevant to the market.

Students are divided into three groups and work closely together throughout the project. They exchange feedback, discuss their different business ideas, and help refine each other’s concepts. Along the way, students are also expected to prepare many important aspects of their applications, including market research, value proposition, customer analysis, cost structure, monetization plans, and business strategies.

The course ends with a pitching simulation, where students present their projects to lecturers acting as investors, giving them a closer look into how startup ideas are presented in professional settings.

Among the projects presented were City Circle, an app helping people in Jakarta find friends, communities, and activities around the city; Moto Aid, a motorcycle rider app with AI spare-part detection, marketplace features, and nearby mechanic maps; and Pretalk, an app designed to help users improve communication skills for interviews, presentations, classroom discussions, and workplace communication.

Through projects like these, UNIJI continues to encourage students to grow not only academically, but also in teamwork, analytical thinking, adaptability, and business instinct—skills that are increasingly important in today’s digital industry.

Bryan Alexander, a Psychology student from UNIJI's Class of 2025, has won 1st Place at MindMasters 2026, a creative content competition hosted by Universitas Tarumanagara (UNTAR). The competition ran from 2 March to 11 April 2026 and brought together eight finalists from UNTAR, UNIJI, UNAIR, and BINUS. Bryan walked away with Rp 2,000,000 in prize money and an e-certificate.

The competition's theme was "Beyond the Mind: Melampaui Pola Pikir Biasa." Bryan chose the self-acceptance sub-theme and submitted a video titled Self Acceptance in Social Media.

His argument tackled something most of us scroll past every day without noticing: the habit of measuring our lives against curated highlight reels online. Drawing on Leon Festinger's Social Comparison Theory, Bryan's video showed how constant exposure to filtered versions of other people's lives slowly distorts how we see ourselves, and why self-acceptance is the way out of that loop.

Mr. Chandra, his lecturer, put it this way: "This achievement is clear proof of how students can translate psychological theories into psychoeducation that is relevant, educational, and widely impactful in the digital era. I strongly hope that students will not only actively excel within the campus environment, but also dare to step outside to explore their creativity and produce real work beyond the campus walls."

Bryan himself said the experience went beyond winning. "Being a student at UNIJI has given me the freedom to explore, create, and grow not only academically, but also through non-academic experiences that help shape confidence, creativity, and teamwork. This competition became one of the many valuable opportunities for me to challenge myself and learn beyond the classroom."

Bryan's win is a small but concrete answer to a question prospective students often ask: can I actually do things outside my major here? At UNIJI, the answer isn't a brochure promise. It's a Psychology student winning a creative content competition against students from four universities, and a lecturer who tells his students to go compete outside the campus walls.

If that sounds like the kind of place you'd want to spend your university years, UNIJI's doors are open — whatever faculty or program you're drawn to.