Telkom University’s Efforts to Alleviate Student Hunger through Inclusive and Accessible Solutions

Food insecurity is a critical issue that can significantly impact students’ well-being and academic performance. Telkom University recognizes this challenge and provides interventions to prevent or alleviate hunger among students, including the supply and access to food banks/pantries and affordable food facilities. Through these students hunger interventions, the university ensures that every student can meet their nutritional needs and focus on academic success.

Strategically Located Canteens with Pantry Facilities

Telkom University has established seven canteens strategically located across the campus, Telkom University has established 8 strategically located canteens across the campus, ensuring easy access for all members of the academic community. These canteens are situated near major academic buildings such as Graha Cacuk Sudaryanto, Tokong Nanas, Damar, and Bangkit Buildings—where students, faculty, and staff spend most of their time. This setup allows students to easily obtain nutritious meals without traveling far.

Each of the 8 canteens is also equipped with pantry facilities, enabling students to store personal food items and prepare simple meals using basic kitchen equipment. This not only supports healthy eating habits during busy academic periods but also ensures food is always available when needed.

In addition, all canteens use a digital payment system, allowing for cashless transactions through e-wallets or QR codes. This feature enhances accessibility and inclusivity—an important aspect of Telkom University’s students' hunger interventions.

24-Hour Vending Machine

To accommodate students’ diverse schedules, including those staying late on campus or residing in dormitories, Telkom University has installed more than 10 vending machines across the campus. These machines are strategically placed around dormitory areas, main academic buildings, and student activity centers, ensuring that students can easily find food and beverages within walking distance.

The vending machines operate 24 hours a day, providing continuous access to snacks, ready-to-eat meals, and beverages. This initiative ensures that students’ nutritional needs are met even outside regular canteen hours, effectively supporting the university’s goal of preventing hunger among students through constant food availability.Vending machines are available at several points across the Telkom University campus.

The presence of over ten vending machines highlights Telkom University’s consistent commitment to students' hunger interventions, demonstrating that access to food is never constrained by time or location.

Kantin Kejujuran: Honesty Canteens with QR-Code Payment

Telkom University promotes integrity and trust through its “Kantin Kejujuran” (Honesty Canteens), located in the Graha Cacuk Sudaryanto Building. These small food outlets operate on an honor system—students can independently select their meals and make payments via a QR-code system linked to various digital wallets.

This concept not only provides convenient and affordable food access but also fosters a sense of responsibility, honesty, and self-regulation within the student body. The students hunger interventions embedded in this system ensure that food remains accessible even when direct supervision is absent, emphasizing the importance of ethical and inclusive approaches to hunger alleviation.

Innovative and Sustainable Food Option: Sorghum-Based Cereal

In addition to providing affordable and accessible food facilities, Telkom University also supports innovation in sustainable food development through the introduction of sorghum-based cereal as a free and nutritious food option for students. Sorghum is a local grain known for its high nutritional value—rich in fiber, protein, and essential minerals—while being naturally gluten-free and climate-resilient. By utilizing sorghum cultivated through community-based agricultural programs, this initiative not only addresses student hunger but also promotes sustainable agriculture and local innovation.

The cereal is distributed periodically during student welfare events and community engagement programs, ensuring that nutritious food is available to all students while strengthening collaborations between Telkom University researchers, local farmers, and SMEs. This effort reflects the university’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), through inclusive and eco-friendly food solutions.

Conclusion

Telkom University’s hunger intervention programs reflect a proactive approach to addressing food insecurity and hunger on campus. By providing easily accessible canteens with pantries, more than 10 vending machines, and honesty-based canteens, the university ensures that students have multiple options to access food at any time.

These students hunger interventions promote convenience, trust, and inclusivity, helping to create a supportive environment where students can focus on their studies without worrying about where their next meal will come from. Telkom University’s commitment to these initiatives ensures that hunger is alleviated, and the well-being of its academic community remains a top priority.