Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) - The commitment to accelerate the implementation of the Smart City programme in Kulon Progo Regency continues to be intensified through multi-stakeholder collaboration, including academics. One of the real contributions came from UMPWR, with the presence of its lecturers as resource persons at the Smart City Kulon Progo 2025 Forum held on Thursday, 26 June 2025 at Joglo Girli Kulon Progo.
The forum was attended by the Regional Secretary, Head of the Communication and Information Office, Secretary of the Communication and Information Office, Communication and Information Staff, Dr. Wing Wahyu Winarno (STIE YKPN resource person), and Head of Village in Kulon Progo totalling 88 people. This forum was held to accelerate the realisation of Smart City in Kulon Progo Regency.
Dr R. Wakhid Akhdinirwanto, M.Si., a lecturer in UMPWR's Physics Education Study Program, presented material on the strategies and challenges of Smart City development based on local potential and digital technology. The presence of academics is considered important to strengthen the scientific foundation in policy planning and smart public service innovation.
"Smart City is not just about technology, but about building responsive, participatory, and data-based governance. Campus involvement is part of the effort to bring contextual and sustainable solutions," explained Dr Wakhid.
Dr. R. Wakhid Akhdinirwanto, M.Si explained that Smart City is a city that uses information and communication technology (ICT) and the Internet of Thing (IoT) to improve people's quality of life, as well as integrating transportation, energy, government, and public service systems efficiently. The goal of a smart city is to create a city that is more efficient, sustainable, and comfortable to live in. There are several Smart City Components, namely Smart Governance, Smart Economy, Smart Mobility, Smart Environment, Smart People, and Smart Living.
Furthermore, Dr Wakhid conveyed some of the benefits of Smart City including Increased efficiency of public services, Improved Quality of Life, Community Empowerment, Reduced emissions and pollution, better mobility, Higher community participation, and Government transparency and accountability. However, realising Smart City is not without challenges. Many challenges will be faced such as Digital infrastructure readiness, Data security and privacy, Digital divide, and last but not least Funding and regulation and Collaboration between stakeholders.
With collaboration between the government and universities such as UMPWR, it is hoped that the acceleration of Smart City realisation in Kulon Progo can run more purposefully and have a broad impact. UMPWR itself continues to encourage its lecturers to actively contribute to regional development, as a form of community service and actualisation of the Tridharma of Higher Education. (akb/KP).
