Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) stands as a beacon of community service dedication in Indonesia, clinching the prestigious Bima Award for achieving the highest community service score from 2020 to 2022.
The award ceremony, held in Jakarta on December 13, 2023, saw the presence of Dr. Arief Setiawan Budi Nugroho, the UGM Vice-Rector for Planning, Assets, and Information Systems.
As a people-oriented university, since its establishment in 1949, UGM strives to benefit the community and the environment around the campus and in the 3T (frontier, outermost, underdeveloped) regions.
UGM orchestrates many impactful community service initiatives through its Directorate of Community Service. Faculties, study centers, and students actively manage these activities at a micro level.
A standout among UGM’s community service endeavors is the Community Service Program (KKN-PPM), a flagship initiative mobilizing around 8,000 student volunteers across 34 provinces.
These programs are crafted based on regional government requests, forming proposals and activity plans in collaboration with provincial, regency, and village stakeholders.
The synergy extends to the UGM Alumni Family (KAGAMA) all over the country, contributing their expertise to ensure the success and continuity of the KKN program.
The geographical reach of UGM’s KKN program spans 34 provinces, 117 regencies, 220 districts, and over 500 villages. These community service activities, including the KKN program, are committed to a sustained effort lasting 3 to 5 years, subject to periodic monitoring.
UGM also spearheads diverse community service activities such as mentoring villages, application of appropriate technology, education for sustainable development (ESD), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sustainable development education programs, mentoring programs for MSMEs, disaster mitigation, and community development.
These initiatives are not confined to university oversight; faculties, study centers, and individual academic community members independently drive community service activities in their respective areas.
Empowering activities that require sharing and discussion can be incorporated into other community service programs. If necessary, they can be a subject of research to obtain in-depth analysis and be brought into the classroom for lecture-discussion.
UGM’s attainment of the Bima Award is a collective triumph involving the active participation of lecturers, students, educational staff, faculties, study centers, community service partners, and supporting entities.
The unity of university leaders, deans, and leaders collaboratively steering community service activities across disciplines is the catalyst for ensuring their profound impact on communities.
To enhance societal benefits, UGM pledges to expand community service activities, emphasizing not only quantity but also elevating the quality and utility of the programs.
Source: UGM Directorate of Community Service