Collaborative Community Service is an annual program initiated by Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in 2019. Due to the pandemic, the program can only start in 2022 and expand to more locations in 2023.
In this collaborative program, UGM works with various universities across Indonesia, involving local governments and private partners, to empower communities in the country.
In 2023, this program was held across ten points in various regions of Indonesia: Yogyakarta Special Region, East Java, and Banten on Java Island, North Sumatra, Bangka Belitung Islands, and Bengkulu on Sumatra Island, Gorontalo, Ternate, North Maluku, and West Kalimantan.
The work programs carried out in the collaborative community service are tailored to the same theme within one district. These themes are proposed based on the community’s needs conveyed to the local government, which is then communicated to UGM.
Subsequently, UGM offers these themes to local universities for agreement. Universities complement each other to follow the agreed timeframe, which is adjusted according to each university’s policy.
Students from Universitas Gadjah Mada collaborate with students from Bengkulu University on Enggano Island, Bengkulu. This island has a strategic role in national defense, infrastructure development, transportation development, port revitalization, and 4G network establishment. This inhabited outer island of Indonesia also possesses diverse cultures, flora, and fauna and astonishing tourism potential.
The following location is North Halmahera. UGM collaborates with Khairun University in Ternate and Halmahera University, involving 10 Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD) in North Halmahera Regency. All OPDs are responsible for organizing and facilitating the students during their stay in the regency.
Five villages in Gorontalo Province are the locations for collaborative community service between UGM and Gorontalo University, aiming to make the area stunting-free. These five villages are Olimoo, Lamu, Tantoyuo, Sari Murni, and Banuroja Villages, situated in two districts, namely Batudaa Pantai and Randangan.
Dr. Djarot Heru Santosa, the Secretary of Community Service at UGM, stated that the extensive locations of collaborative community service outside Java Island are due to the limited reach of UGM, which requires continuous mentoring from local universities. UGM will then provide remote assistance.
“UGM’s community service has become a trendsetter for hundreds of universities in Indonesia that have student community service programs and want to try to emulate it according to their respective conditions,” expressed Djarot.
Author: Rifai