Higher education plays a strategic role in disseminating technology and innovation from programs to meet the needs of society and the nation. To ensure that this dissemination runs smoothly, collaboration among universities is necessary to meet the needs of the community. Collaboration among universities can be done through Collaborative Community Service Programs (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN) and other service programs. To realize this vision, Gadjah Mada University initiated the formation of a Community Service Forum to discuss these opportunities.
Held at the Meeting Room of UGM’s Directorate of Community Service and Alumni, Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni, Dr. Arie Sujito, S.Sos., M.Si opened the Community Service Forum on February 14th, which was attended by the heads of the Institute for Community Service (LPM/LPPM) and the Chair of Collaborative Community Service Program (KKN) from six universities in Yogyakarta, namely the School of Community Development “APMD”, Ahmad Dahlan University (UAD), State Islamic University (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta State University (UNY), National Development University “Veteran” Yogyakarta, and Sanata Dharma University. “This meeting is aimed at connecting and consolidating existing KKN activities in each university to contribute more to the region. Nowadays, it’s not about universities competing with each other, but how universities can collaborate and work together to solve the problems in society. Together, we will collaborate to help the local government, especially in addressing the high poverty rate in Yogyakarta.”
In this forum, UGM agreed together with six other universities to deepen discussions about collaborative community service activities and KKN. Dr. Arie Sudjito added that if strategic collaboration between universities with their respective expertise can be formulated properly, then the community, local government, and universities can work together to build the welfare of society and the nation.
