A student from the Agricultural Microbiology Study Program at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) class of 2021, Muhammad Prakosa Damarsejati, participated in the Community Empowerment Service Learning Program (KKN-PPM) for the second period of 2024 in Palingkau Asri Village, Kapuas Murung District, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan. This KKN activity is a mandatory program included in the intramural activities that implement the tri dharma of higher education: education, research, and community service. It provides students with the experience of learning and working in community development activities as a medium for applying and developing science and technology outside the campus, according to the needs of the region, within a predetermined work mechanism.
SDG 11: SUSTINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
One of the Agricultural Microbiology students from the 2021 cohort, Erina Tika Febiyanti, who is commonly known as Erina, has just completed her Community Service-Learning and Community Empowerment Program (KKN-PPM) for the second period of 2024 in Dusun Badat Lama, Suruh Tembawang Village, Entikong Sub-district, Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan. This KKN activity is a mandatory course that provides students with the opportunity to directly apply their field of study to help solve problems that arise in the community. According to Erina, the KKN program encourages students to broaden their perspectives, engage dynamically with the community to observe existing challenges, and solve those challenges by empowering local residents. Erina believes that the 50-day period for the community service program is not enough to fully resolve all the existing issues, but it is sufficient to initiate positive change, both for herself as a student and for the community to become more empowered in improving their well-being.
One of the Microbiology students from the 2020 cohort, Uways Irfany, commonly known as Uways, has just completed the Community Empowerment Learning Work Lecture (KKN-PPM) period IV of the year 2023/2024 in Paka Village, Satar Mese District, Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This KKN activity is one of the compulsory courses that provide opportunities for students to directly apply their discipline in helping to address community issues. According to Uways, the KKN program encourages students to step out of their comfort zone, observe the challenges faced by the community, and contribute effectively to solving these challenges together with students from other disciplines as well as with the local community. Although the 50-day service period may seem very short, Uways believes it is enough to initiate positive change not only for himself as a student but also for the community to become more empowered.