UNS — Diploma Program (D-3) in Tourism Business (UPW) Vocational School (SV) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held a Project-Based Learning (PBL) to improve student’s practical skill and assist in local tourism potential development. The program was designed for the fourth semester students in five locations, Randugede Village, Magetan District, Rumah Atsiri Indonesia, Karanganyar District, Kampung Wisata Baluwarti, Surakarta, Trangsan, Sukoharjo District, and Logede, Kebumen District.
One of the PBL groups that actively assist and educate the local community in the program is in Randugede Village, under Nanang Wijayanto, S.S.T., M.M. Par., supervision. Nanang stated that the “Avisena” team held PBL in Randugede Hidden Paradise from 2 March 2021. “The program will run until 28 June 2021. This vocation has more practical (courses). We hope that students who practice (their knowledge) directly in the environment will get concrete needs of the industry, and we encourage (them) to implement the program or project into a work,” Nanang said to uns.ac.id on Monday (19/4/2021).
He explained that with PBL, students no longer become a listener of their lecturers. Students apply their theories in the community directly. Nanang explained that SV UNS uses active student learning in the process, students participate and collaborate with faculty members who act as a mentor and provides stimuli to students. If students find difficulties in their practice, faculty members will discuss the issues with students.
Avisena Team focuses on the development of local potential as sustainable eco-tourism, nature-based tourism, and conservation. In eco-tourism, a destination needs to pay attention to environmental and cultural protection to achieve community welfare. Nanang added that tourism development also needs to pay attention to sustainability and the ability to generate income continuously.
Output PBL
During their PBL in Randugede Hidden Paradise, D-3 UPW SV UNS students are encouraged to prepare a tourism package that offers local potential based on the community and eco-tourism. Nanang explained that students were asked to develop the package because there are many tourism locations with high potential, but the local community lacks the knowledge to manage those locations. In the marketing process, Nanang added that Avisena team introduces the area through the social media managed by the fourth-semester students in D-3 UPW SV UNS who did not get permission to join PBL offline from their parents. These students want to participate in remote PBL even though they are not directly involved in the field.
“Alhamdulillah, almost all groups are enthusiastic (in participating). Learning on the campus only involves classroom and written materials. We now utilized industrial field and field experience to provide answers for the existing issues,” Nanang explained.
Nanang also said that Avisena group received support from the community, who directly asked the local government to develop the village into rural tourism. “The Regent of Magetan also visited the village and asked to meet with our PBL team. It’s a good response,” he said. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
