Mataram, the University of Mataram – the Community Service Program Unit of Institute for Research and Community Service University of Mataram (LPPM Unram) held an Exhibition of Village Community Empowerment of Community Service Program Products (KKN-PMD) which was held in the Parking Area to the West of the Rector’s Building Unram on Saturday, 26th of August 2023. This KKN-PMD Product Exhibition is one of a series of post-KKN-PMD activities.

The implementation of the KKN-PMD Result was attended by the Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Unram Alumni Dr. Sujita, S.T., M.T.; Head of LPPM Unram Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr .; Coordinator of KKN and Cooperation Dr. Ir. Misbahuddin, ST., MT.; KKN Secretary Dr. Ni Wayan Sri Suliartini, SP., MP.; and the Unram LPPM KKN Management Team.

The Coordinator of KKN and Cooperation, Dr. Ir. Misbahuddin, ST., MT. in his remarks explained that the 2023 KKN-PMD consisted of 14 themes including Desapreneur, Advanced and Zero Agricultural Villages, Tourism Villages, Healthy Villages, Advanced and Sustainable Agriculture Villages especially Porang Commodities, Corn, Paddy, Livestock and Fisheries in Dompu Regency, Disaster Resilient Villages (DESTANA), Healthy Villages with Stunting Themes, Digital Villages, and Disadvantaged Villages.

“This exhibition is not just an event to showcase KKN-PMD products. However, each group of the 14 themes is expected to be able to take part in the Innovation Contest activities held by the Mataram University Business and Innovation Incubator (KUBINOV), “said Dr. Misbah.

Furthermore, the Head of LPPM Unram Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr. emphasized that the main purpose of implementing the KKN-PMD was not just distributing students to several villages spread across two islands, Lombok and Sumbawa Islands to gain experience. But the most important thing is how students can collaborate and develop their potential that exists in the village as one of the first steps in handling village problems with a creative approach model.

“KKN-PMD is also a means to educate and identify problems and needs that are really needed to overcome problems that exist in society. In particular, during this exhibition, the Chairperson of the Business Management Agency (BPU) at the University of Mataram was also present to read students’ creative ideas, so that the KKN-PMD results were not just products but to be followed up (Commercialized) to become a Start-UP, said Prof. Sukartono, who is also a Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture Unram.

Regarding what was conveyed by the Chairperson of LLPM Unram, the Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Alumni of Unram, Dr. Sujita, S.T., M.T. also proud and enthusiastic to see the high entrepreneurial spirit among Unram students. Especially with the presence of creative ideas through KKN-PMD activities. Entrepreneurship is not only about starting a business, but also about developing the ability to think creatively, adapt to change, and work in a team.

“In this era, you can’t just rely on a high GPA, but you need soft skills to support a better future, so that the students at University of Mataram don’t only want to be civil servants but can become entrepreneurs,” he stressed.

He also quoted one piece of advice from Sayidina Ali RA that the key to the progress of a civilization is 4. First, the knowledge of the ulama. Second, the generosity of entrepreneurs. Third, a fair leader. And the last thing is that there is a community (people) who pray for their leader. The world of entrepreneurship is as important as academic achievement.
Finally, the Unram KKN-PMD Product Exhibition became one of the instruments to create a creative, critical, and entrepreneurial generation among students, especially students in the Unram environment