Mataram, University of Mataram – The Research and Community Service Institute of the University of Mataram (LPPM Unram) held a meeting on the Formulation of a Guidebook for Student Community Service (KKN) for the Empowerment of Village Communities (PMD) which took place in the main courtroom of LPPM University of Mataram on Friday (1/12).

This activity was attended by Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr. as Head of LPPM accompanied by Prof. Dr. Ir. I Gusti Putu Muliarta Aryana, MP. as Secretary; Dr. Ir. Misbahuddin, ST, MT.., IPU. as Head of the Center for Community Service and Cooperation; Dr. Ni Wayan Sri Suliartini, MP. as Secretary of the Center for Community Service; Head of the Center for Business Incubators and Innovation Dr. Didy Ika Supryadi, SE, MM; Head of the Center for Programs, Information Data and Quality, I Wayan Sudiarta, Ph.D.; Head of the Research Center, Prof. Ir. Buan Anshari, ST., M.Sc. (Eng.), Ph.D.; and Vice Deans in Unram.

Starting this meeting, Dr. Ir. Misbahuddin, ST., MT., IPU. as the Head of the Service Center for Student Community Service (KKN) and Cooperation reported that, “the production of this guide is intended to be a guideline for the implementation of Regular PMD and MBKM Community Service for students of the University of Mataram, so that the implementation of PMD and MBKM Community Service can be implemented to achieve the set goals”.

Student Community Service (KKN) is a form of community service carried out by students in an interdisciplinary, institutional, and partnership manner as one of the tridharma activities of higher education.

KKN PMD is a reformulation of Thematic KKN. KKN PMD is a form of education by providing learning experiences for students to live in the community outside the campus, who directly with the community identify potential and handle problems so that they are expected to be able to develop the potential of the village / region and concoct solutions to problems in the village.

On the same occasion, the Head of LPPM Unram, Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr. in his speech explained that, “the problems in the village require the contribution of the thoughts of the younger generation due to the limited competent human resources to overcome the problem. Universities can take the main role according to their capacity through research and community service activities, one of which is realized by implementing KKN activities. Various activities that can be carried out in the KKN programs, lead to work programs that are educational, innovative, and creative”.

The implementation of KKN PMD and KKN MBKM is carried out to support cooperation with various strategic partners, including foreign partners, business entities, the Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (PDTT) and other ministries/stakeholders. The implementation of KKN PMD and KKN MBKM can be implemented in very underdeveloped, disadvantaged and developing villages, whose human resources do not have the ability to plan development with these large funding facilities. This results in the increased effectivity of the use of village funds to drive economic growth, including through students who become human resources that can further empower village funds.