Faculty Members in Applied Informatics Research Group (RG) with Hartatik, S.Si., M.Si., Abdul Aziz, M.Cs., and Nurul Firdaus, M.Info.Tech., as members implemented research and community service program in 2021 that focuses on the digitalization of rural tourism. As an implementation of Tri Dharma, the program that aims to promote the great natural tourism potential in Watu Gambir was implemented under a collaboration with Karang Village Chief, Dwi Purwoto, S.E., and the Head of Tourism, Youth, and Sports Office Karanganyar District, Drs. Titis Sri Jawoto.

The local governments support the promotion efforts through Smart Village we application, the creation of video profiles, and social media. Students of Diploma Program (D-3) in Informatics Engineering were also involved in the program: A. Niko P., Windhi Nur Safitri, and Hafidh An Naafi Suratno.

The “Go wisata” web page is projected to facilitate the local community to promote their tourism destination digitally. Visitors will also be assisted in finding the location and information on points of interest in Watu Gambir rural tourism such as flower garden, lake, reserve camping ground, river tubing, lodging, restaurants, and boats.

The developed application also empowers local people who own hotels or culinary businesses to promote their business. The Tourism Office involvement is also expected to hold the digitalization process in the rural tourism destination. “Go Wisata” Application is an implementation and development of fundamental research, “Go-Payment,” as an effort to improve the tourism industry amid the digital payment era.

“Using this application, we hope to bridge one another and bring benefits for the Diploma Program (D-3) in Informatics Engineering UNS, village apparatus, local community, and tourist of Watu Gambir, continue to develop my village, visit wisatagambir.com, and empower our village. Salam bergerak,” Hartatik stated. Humas UNS

Reporter: Rangga P.A.
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post Diploma Program in Informatics Engineering UNS Takes a Role in Watu Gambir, Karanganyar Rural Tourism Digitalization appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

The Vice-Rector emphasized that the digitalization trend amid the Covid-19 pandemic is unavoidable development for the community because people will seek a quick, practical, and efficient way of life. Therefore digitalization will become a need, and with the support from modern technology, it will fasten the globalization process. This observation was shared by Prof. Ahmad Yunus as a speaker in the “Local Wisdom Value Existence in the Digital Transformation Process” webinar broadcasted through the MASTEL TV YouTube on Wednesday (6/10/2021).

“Information Technology has become one of the vital instruments for people to achieve their life objectives. Thus, affecting their actions and lifestyle,” he stated.

Prof. Ahmad Yunus stated that even though the digitalization trend is unavoidable, there are several concerns about the possibility of disturbing local wisdom and national unity. For example, the changes in perspectives, culture, traditions, and lifestyles of millennial society, cyberbullying, hate speech, hoaxes, and the spread of radicalism. These concerns could pose a serious threat if the community was not equipped with knowledge on digital literacy. He added that the concerns over digitalization have a negative impact on Indonesia, according to the report published by IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2020.

IMD World collected data on the country’s competitiveness power regarding the acceleration of digital transformation from 63 countries worldwide. The result of this survey placed Indonesia at 56th rank or on the bottom 10, indicating that Indonesia’s competitiveness index is still low. “This could turn into a threat; Indonesia will only act as a market and lose the opportunity to generate benefits due to the low digital technology,” Prof. Ahmad Yunus stated.

Maintaining the Local Wisdom

On the occasion, Prof. Ahmad Yunus also mentioned that the government needs to prepare a strategy to improve local wisdom immunity in facing the digitalization trend by taking the positive benefits of information technology advancement to develop national potential based on the local wisdom. He also reminded that local wisdom impact needs to be maintained in facing the digitalization trend.

Prof. Yunus explained that in the modern era, the key to master development is in a country’s capability in managing information technology. He does not want Indonesia to be controlled by superpower countries and demanded the Indonesian government to be watchful over the increasing cyber-attack.

“Digitalization needs to be treated with wisdom as positive results of modernization that push the community into advancement. Refusing globalization is not wise because it will hamper the development of science and technology,” he stated. Humas UNS

Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post Vice-Rector for Academic and Student Affairs UNS Reminded the Community to be Careful in Responding to Digitalization appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.