IO, Bandung – Chancellor of Padjadjaran University (Unpad), Prof. Dr. Rina Indiastuti, MSIE, released 1,742 Unpad students to take part in Thematic Community Service (KKN). The event was carried out symbolically at Bale Sawala, Unpad Rectorate Building, Jatinangor Campus, Wednesday (01/09/2020).
The assignment of the KKN Thematic Entrepreneurship participants saw embedding Unpad alma mater suit to student representatives by the Rector of Unpad, accompanied by the Vice-Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Arry Bainus, MA; Vice Chancellor for Research, Community Service, Cooperation and Academic Corporations Prof. Dr. Keri Lestari, SSi, MSi Apt; Director of Education and Student Affairs Prof. Dr. Wawan Hermawan, MS; and Regional Secretary of Sumedang Regency, Herman Suryatman, MSc.
During the implementation of Thematic Entrepreneurship Community Service activities from 9 January to 12 February 2020, participants will stay for 35 days in 88 villages spread across 14 sub-districts in three districts: Sumedang, Bandung, and Pangandaran. Participants were accompanied by 102 field supervisors (DPL) who would guide students and carry out community service under the Three Principles (Tri Dharma) of Higher Education.
In his remarks, Prof. Rina advised that students appreciate this KKN Thematic Entrepreneurship as an educational process. They are expected to be able to learn to take an experience from the community to be accumulated into knowledge and skills, which will yield benefits for the community.
“Please impress upon the community that Unpad is a community partner of West Java. Unpad is committed to helping West Java overcome development problems while improving the quality of human resources, one of which is through the Community Service Program,” said Prof. Rina, as quoted by Unpad Public Relations.
To the DPLs, Prof. Rina advised that they accompany and closely observe the KKN Thematic Entrepreneurship process, both during and until after implementation. Meanwhile, in his speech, Secretary of the Sumedang District hoped that students who carry out community service in Sumedang District would be able to transform the knowledge that had been explored so that entrepreneurial spirit would grow collectively.
“Thematic KKN is relevant to efforts to reduce poverty in Sumedang District, which is targeted to reach 0.8 percent each year. Further, the pace of our economic growth has not been matched by equity. Hopefully, Unpad KKN can offer a concrete solution,” Herman said.
He also expressed hope that in the next 1-2 years there would be an increase in welfare to 53 villages where KKN Thematic Entrepreneurship is located in his area. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to act as a trigger for the improvement and equitable distribution of welfare for all Sumedang.
On this occasion, Dr. Arry said that Thematic Entrepreneurship Community Service activities are different this time, even though the theme of Community Service Entrepreneurship had been carried out before. Modifications include the distribution of locations which has expanded to cover three districts, compared to the previous year which was located only in Sumedang District.
“We have various instruments to implement this Community Service Program, with the synergy of students going down to the villages, which is to ascertain their economic potential, then to develop such local potential held by the region used as a place for KKN,” he said. (*/est)