As a University of Pancasila, University of Struggle, University of Culture, National University, and University of Democracy, it is important for Universitas Gadjah Mada to strengthen its identity by implementing community service, one of the steps taken is through the Student Community Service – Community Empowerment Learning programme of Universitas Gadjah Mada (KKN-PPM UGM). The goal of the programme is to conduct activities that encourage sustainable independence and welfare of the people.
The basic principle and implementation of KKN-PPM UGM:
- The integration of aspects of the Tri Dharma motto of higher learning institutions (education, research, community service)
- Empathy-Participatory
- Interdisciplinary
- Comprehensive-Complementing with large dimensions
- Realistic-Pragmatic
- Environment development
- Sustainable
The aim of the implementation of KKN-PPM UGM:
- Increasing student’s empathy and care.
- Implementing Science, Technology and Culture in an interdisciplinary teamwork.
- Instilling personality value:
- Nationalism and spirit of Pancasila (state ideology).
- Resilience, work ethics and responsibility.
- Independence, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
- Increasing national competitive leverage.
- Instilling the spirit of research and community service
- Explorative and analysis.
- Encouraging learning community and learning society
The projects of KKN-PPM UGM are targeted at three stakeholders, namely, students, society (partners and government) and university. The excellent values of KKN-PPM for UGM students are, among others, a learning medium to become a leader, manager, and entrepreneur, the process to form a personality that has the noble and dignified character, self-development that is resilient as innovator, motivator, driving dynamics, and problem solver, and andragogic learning along with society.
KKN-PPM UGM builds a synergy between various society elements, such as: society/social organisations, public leaders, local governments, and local government elements in the regency and municipal levels, business players, alumni association (KAGAMA), running from local governments in the sub-district down to the hamlet level that participate as resource persons and partners of hamlets of KKN-PPM UGM on the field.
UGM continues to develop the KKN-PPM UGM to the full through various means, including developing the KKN-PPM UGM pattern, making it integrated, measured and sustainable, focusing on the formation of students as entrepreneurs, leaders and managers, deciding the direction of location priority and minimising the risk of the projects that will be conducted. The KKN-PPM UGM is expected to continue to help resolve nation’s problems, namely: poverty and unemployment, development of disadvantaged regions (outermost, underdeveloped, and the most remote), disaster and conflict-prone areas, and minimise the gap between regions in terms of progress.
The KKN-PPM UGM programme until currently has dispatched up to 200,000 students to all provinces of Indonesia who build and empower the community with the implementation of Science, Technology and Culture in various aspects of lives.
KKN-PPM UGM is the real form of commitment of democracy and nationhood of Universitas Gadjah Mada. KKN-PPM UGM is a compulsory lecture that has a long history; the initiation of which has started since 1951. During its long history, the implementation of KKN-PPM UGM has produced extraordinary benefits that empowered society in the framework of the construction of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Partnership is one of sources of power and excellence of KKN-PPM UGM. With partnership, community empowerment can be conducted through various programmes in wider coverage with the in-depth treatment that is more intensive. With partnership, a synergy can be reached through programmes that benefit all groups involved. With this partnership, continuity and completion of a theme of KKN-PPM UGM is achievable.
Partnership can be established for KKN-PPM UGM of a short duration (one dispatch) or more (more than one dispatch). Details of each stage are typical of each type of cooperation, adjusting to the work patterns of the partners. The outline is as follows:
- Agreement and approval of substance and operational outlines of cooperation, including indicators of achievements and other guidelines matters.
- Formal signing of MoU and/or Cooperation Agreement or equal documents
- Preparations for comprehensive mechanism for field operations.
Including in this area is briefing to students with special themes, if required,
- Field operations
- Monitor and evaluation
- Continuation of cooperation and partnership
The success and consistency of UGM in conducting the Student Community Service has been internationally recognised. There are 32 universities from 15 countries already having participated in the programme. The international recognition is also shown by the naming of community empowerment-based Student Community Service – Community Empowerment Learning programme of UGM as one core project of Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) in the United Nations University networks since December 2007.
In 2006 the concept of KKN-PPM UGM was presented during the University Leadership Forum of the UNESCO. That year started the KKN-PPM UGM that emphasised on “empowerment” paradigm and was based on research. In 2013 the concept, application, and governance of KKN-PPM UGM was developed further to inspire the country and the world that will eventually benefit humanity more.
In year 2015, KKN-PPM UGM was conducted for 3 periods, first semester (1 April – 31 May 2015), between-semester (1 July – 31 August 2015) and second-semester (1 November – 31 December 2015). It was implemented in 27 provinces, 107 regencies, 210 sub-districts and 310 villages. The KKN-PPM UGM projects are supported by State University Operational Budget through partnership with regional governments, ministries, CSR, and other agencies. Year 2015 saw two thematic themes of Student Community Service from Public Works and Public Settlement Ministry in the form of KKN Tematik SPAMDES and KKN Tematik 100-0-100. Besides, UGM with Ministry of Villages, Underdeveloped Regions and Transmigration initiated the Student Community Service – Transmigration Theme to help people in transmigration areas prosper. To implement Law on Villages, the BALILATFO agency of the Ministry along with UGM arranged the module and model of KKN Village that will go along with the local village authorities in planning and using village budget.
UGM also played the role in disaster handling through the KKN-PPM programme. So, on 16 August 2015 the Karangkobar village, Karangkobar sub-district, Banjarnegara city, Central Java province, was appointed as Disaster-Resilient Village by Central Java Governor. UGM also sent a disaster response unit to the Tumbang Nusa village, Jabiren Raya village, Pulang Pisau regency, Central Kalimantan province, three months after academic activities in elementary, junior high and senior high schools were suspended due to haze caused by forest fires in 2015. The Student Community Service- Disaster Aware has actually started since 2006 (Bantul earthquake), Padang Quake, West Sumatera (2009), Wasior (2010), Mt. Merapi Eruption (2010-2012), Banjarnegara Landslide (2014), Bekasi & Kudus Floods (2014), Mt. Sinabung Eruption (2014 – 2015), Mt. Kelud Eruption (2015), etc.
Apart from the regular Student Community Service programme, the KKN-PPM UGM is also followed by international students. In 2015, there were 95 international students joining the programme from universities in Japan, Australia, Malaysia, the U.S., and Germany. In 2014 and 2015, four UGM students and two lecturers were invited by the Japanese Government and Shizuoka University to share the implementations of KKN-PPM UGM projects across Indonesia.