A total of 11 students from Malaysia Technology University (UTM) from 13-19 July 2011 participated in community service internship program, KKN PPM of Universitas Gadjah Mada. The students were accompanied by two lecturers. According to the Secretary of the UGM Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), Dr. drh. Wisnu Nurcahyo, the participation of students from other countries signifies the success and uniqueness of the program. “The KKN PPM has inspired many other universities in Indonesia for a long time, even internationally. Evidently, there are several other countries that are interested and want to adapt the program," said Wisnu when giving directions in the LPPM Main Room Wednesday (13/7).
Wisnu said some of the themes chosen by the Malaysian students were Community Empowerment in Effort to Explore Tourism Potential of the Local Coastal Zone of Kebumen, Socio-Economic Life and Environmental Recovery Post-Merapi Eruption in Sleman District, and Hargotirto Prosperous Village Development Program in Kokap, Kulon Progo, in cooperation with the Solidarity of Wives of Members of United Indonesia Cabinet (SIKIB) in Kulon Progo Regency. "There are programs in Central Java and Yogyakarta," he added.
Wisnu hoped that after the internship jointly conducted by LPPM and UTM, spirit of leadership and empathy can be nurtured in students that lead to the solution of current problems in society.
In the same place, Dr. drh. Irkham Widiyono conveys in more detail about the implementation of KKN program that will and has been done so far, starting from the history, basic principles, to the activities and programs implemented by the Indonesian students during the program. The students and lecturers from UTM were enthusiastic and very interested to get to the location of KKN PPM.