The Director of the Directorate of Community Service (DPkM) at Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Rustamadji, has been awarded the Transmigration Award from the Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration in the category of Motivator for Empowering Communities in Transmigration Areas through the thematic Community Service Program (KKN) in transmigration.
Minister Abdul Halim Iskandar gave the award presentation directly during the Transmigration Coordination Meeting 2024, entitled ‘Completing the Targets of the 2020-2024 RPJM Program, Realizing Self-Reliant and Competitive Transmigration Areas,’ held in Makassar on Monday (May 6).
Dr. Rustamadji stated that this award recognizes UGM’s contribution to supporting the transmigration program by deploying KKN students to carry out thematic programs in transmigration areas.
“We have collaborated with the Directorate General of Transmigration Development by sending KKN students to transmigration areas to support sustainable development and make transmigration areas more self-reliant,” said the director in his statement to reporters on Wednesday (May 15).
According to Dr. Rustamadji, receiving this award from the ministry is expected to motivate the DPkM team to continue making improvements and generating new innovations in the deployment program of UGM’s KKN students in various corners of transmigration areas in Indonesia.
“We want the presence of students to inspire transmigrants and empower transmigrant communities in managing resources through the knowledge and technology they acquire from the campus,” he said.
Dr. Rustamadji mentioned that in 2023, UGM sent KKN student teams to six locations in six provinces, namely in Enggano District, North Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu Province; Randangan District, Pohuwato Regency, Gorontalo Province; Sungai Kakap District, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan; Kapuas Murung District, Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan Province; Maligano District, Muna Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province; and Sambelia District, East Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara.
The thematic work program by KKN students includes programs for economic empowerment, food security, and cultural preservation. Furthermore, there are programs for community empowerment based on small businesses, poverty reduction and stunting prevention, optimization of local resources, and empowering women in increasing community economy. Additionally, there are programs for applying integrated agricultural systems and optimizing resources for economic development in transmigration areas.
Author: Gusti Grehenson