Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the University of Halmahera (Uniera) and Khairun University (Unkhair), is committed to supporting regional development in North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province. Through the Community Service Program (KKN-PPM), the three universities are preparing to deploy student volunteers in mid-June.
This joint KKN-PPM initiative in North Halmahera is a tangible contribution to community empowerment and the preservation of local wisdom.
Titled Kelana Hara in the North Maluku region, the program will run from Jun. 20 to Aug. 8, 2025, and will work in synergy to support community development.
Professor Tri Kuntoro Priyambodo, who serves as the Field Supervisor for the pre-KKN-PPM activities at UGM, explained that the North Halmahera Collaboration or Kelana Hara is a program that integrates the core values of the university’s tri-dharma, especially community service, with a spirit of exploration (kelana) and stewardship of cultural heritage and local resources unique to North Halmahera in North Maluku.
A number of pre-deployment activities have already been conducted, including village potential mapping workshops, cross-cultural communication training, and coordination meetings with local governments and community leaders.
“We will certainly apply a participatory approach that is the hallmark of the Kelana Hara, where students are expected to live, learn, and work directly with the community, fostering strong and collaborative relationships,” he said at the UGM campus on Thursday, Jun. 5, 2025.
According to Professor Priyambodo, the implementation of the Kelana Hara in North Maluku aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty alleviation, quality education, conservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as preservation of cultural and local identities.
He noted that the program is part of UGM’s strategic agenda to expand its outreach across regions.
“Following its successful implementation in areas such as East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Papua, and the Talaud Islands, the deployment in North Maluku this year is expected to serve as a key milestone in strengthening synergy between universities, communities, and governments to build Indonesia from its periphery,” he stated.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Illustration: Mongabay