Thousands of students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) have officially begun their community engagement journey through the Community Service and Community Empowerment Learning Program (KKN-PPM) Period II of 2026. Following the official deployment ceremony conducted by the university, students were dispatched to various regions across Indonesia to implement community empowerment programs for approximately 50 days.
One of the KKN units assigned to the Province of West Nusa Tenggara will carry out its activities in Kuta Village and Mertak Village, Pujut District, Central Lombok Regency. The unit is supervised by Susanti Mugi Lestari, S.P., M.Si., Ph.D., a lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Carrying the theme “Synergizing Blue-Green Economy and Community-Based Tourism to Support Food Security and Local Economic Development in Kuta and Mertak Villages,” the students aim to integrate the potential of the agricultural, coastal, and tourism sectors, which represent the primary strengths of the region. This theme was selected to encourage development that not only focuses on economic growth but also emphasizes environmental sustainability and active community participation.
During the initial stage of the KKN program, students will conduct observations and engage with local communities to gain a deeper understanding of the villages’ social, economic, and environmental conditions. This process serves as an essential foundation before designing work programs, ensuring that all planned activities align with local needs and potentials. In addition to coordinating with village governments, students will interact with community groups, tourism entrepreneurs, farmers, fishers, and other stakeholders involved in local development.
According to Dr. Susanti Mugi Lestari, understanding the community and the characteristics of the area is just as important as implementing the programs themselves. Through this process, students learn how to develop relevant solutions while building strong collaborations with local communities as key partners in empowerment initiatives.
Throughout the KKN program, students are expected to contribute to activities that support food security, sustainable natural resource management, creative economic development, and community-based tourism. The blue economy approach encourages the responsible and sustainable utilization of coastal resources, while the green economy framework promotes environmentally friendly economic activities that generate added value for local communities.
The strategic position of Kuta and Mertak Villages as leading tourism destinations in Central Lombok also provides opportunities for students to develop innovations that connect tourism development with local economic empowerment. As a result, the benefits of development can be more widely distributed while simultaneously supporting environmental conservation and the preservation of local culture.
Through this program, students not only gain valuable learning experiences outside the classroom but also have the opportunity to strengthen their leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in real-world situations. These experiences play an important role in shaping graduates who are capable of contributing meaningfully to society and sustainable development.
This KKN-PPM program aligns with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), through strengthening food security, promoting sustainable natural resource management, empowering local communities, and fostering cross-sector collaboration for inclusive and sustainable development.