Ten students from the Social Welfare Study Program (IKS), Faculty of Da'wah and Communication, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, have successfully completed the PRIMA MBKM Batch 1 Internship Program during the 2025/2026 Fall Semester. The internship formed part of the PRIMA (Professional Readiness Through Internship and Mentorship for Academics) initiative, launched by Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs to strengthen career readiness among students at State Islamic Higher Education Institutions (PTKIN) through immersive workplace learning.

As part of the program, the Social Welfare Study Program placed ten students with the Yogyakarta Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA DIY). The interns were assigned to three protected conservation areas: Paliyan Wildlife Reserve in Gunungkidul Regency, Sermo Wildlife Reserve in Kulon Progo Regency, and the Imogiri Nature Reserve in Bantul Regency.

Over the course of the semester, students participated in a wide range of field activities, including community-based socio-economic and cultural assessments surrounding conservation areas, stakeholder engagement, environmental conservation initiatives, and collaborative programs linking protected-area management with local communities. The placement enabled students to apply social work perspectives to environmental sustainability, community development, and participatory conservation.

The internship was academically supervised by Muhammad Izzul Haq, Ph.D., and Khotibul Umam, M.Si., who provided continuous mentoring, monitoring, and evaluation throughout the semester. Their supervision ensured that students were able to connect practical field experiences with the learning outcomes outlined in the program's Outcome-Based Education (OBE) curriculum.

The program concluded on December 18, 2025, with students submitting their final internship reports and presenting the results of their fieldwork before faculty supervisors and representatives from BKSDA DIY. The presentations highlighted the students' observations, professional learning experiences, challenges encountered during the internship, and recommendations for strengthening collaboration between conservation authorities and surrounding communities.

The final presentations underscored the important contribution social work can make to environmental governance. Beyond ecological protection, students emphasized the need to understand local social dynamics, foster meaningful community participation, and develop empowerment strategies that complement long-term conservation objectives.

During the activity, the students reported on their internship activities, including the outputs achieved and the follow-up plans of the MBKM Prima internship. This initiative aligns with the research roadmap of the IKS Study Program, which has begun to place greater emphasis on green social work, or ecological social work, focusing on environmental conservation as a vital component of the ecosystem of individuals’ social functioning.

In addition to placements at BKSDA DIY, other Social Welfare students participated in PRIMA MBKM internships at Protean Institute and Rainforest Alliance, broadening their professional exposure across environmental sustainability, organizational development, and social innovation.

For the Social Welfare Study Program, participation in the PRIMA MBKM initiative reflects its ongoing commitment to expanding strategic partnerships while preparing graduates for an increasingly complex professional landscape. By engaging directly with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and international institutions, students graduate not only with strong academic foundations but also with the practical competencies, leadership skills, adaptability, and social awareness required to address contemporary social and environmental challenges.