Universitas Gadjah Mada, as a distinguish state university in Indonesia has long implemented “Student Center Learning”, to which now, translated in many activity program by its member faculties. Hereafter, Faculty of Geography, promotes a fieldwork activity to support the program. There are numbers of fieldwork activities in Faculty Geography, ranging from short-term fieldwork (1-2 day) to long-term (1-2 week) fieldwork. Each course that contains practical work normally conducts short-term fieldwork to complete coursework in class at the end of the semester. Each study program also conducts long-term fieldwork to collect data at the end of the second semester. Each student should conduct fieldwork either, short and long term for their thesis, community engagement and compulsory coursework. In total, each student at undergraduate level shall conduct more than 5 short-term fieldworks, and 5 long-term fieldworks during their study program. Designs such rigorous plan on fieldworks, hence Faculty Geography aims at generating a skillful bachelor holder either in class and at field as well. This fieldwork is an opportunity to conduct “SCL” since student should be active rather than receiving information per se from the lecturer.
At postgraduate master program, Faculty Geography conducts series of fieldwork. The most recent activity on fieldwork was conducted to train 18 students from Meteorological, Climatology and Geophysic Agency (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi dan Geofisika – BMKG) also international students from Nepal and Tanzania. The main theme of the fieldwork is an introductory towards basic measurement in geography study. Participate in the program also Prof. Gabriel R. Kasenga who happen to have similar background with the student. The fieldwork accommodate several key person such as Dr. Suprapto Dibyosaputro, Dr. Dyah Rahmawati Hizbaron, Dr. Estuning Tyas Wulan Mei and Nugroho Christanto, M.Sc to guide the students during one day fieldwork to several points of observation.
The fieldwork observes several points to accommodate different sources of observation. First point is “Umbul Mudal”, a contact spring located at the peri-urban area of Sleman, Yogyakarta. In this point student are acknowledged to measure water quality and water debit using particular tools. Second point is early warning system introduction to measure rainfall and water debit at the upperstream area of Code River. The students are introduced to mechanism of rainfall measurement, which will indicate any mudflow potential. Third point permanent shelter of “Pagerjurang”, Cangkringan, Sleman Yogyakarta. The area was designed to accommodate refugees from last Merapi eruption, which at the end completed with basic service that allow this settlement area as permanent shelter for them. Fourth point is Bronggang, the mining area at the footslope of Merapi Volcano. The students are introduced to mitigation strategy using check dam or sabo dam, which will cover downstream area from mudflow during and after volcanic eruption.
Through this event, our student shall have broaden understanding about object to study and shall increase their ability to perform better at practical level. At the end of their fieldwork, students are getting an opportunity to be actively involve in group discussion as well as share their ideas in the class.