UNS – Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) 2024 Festival, featuring various student exhibits in the courtyard of the dr. Prakosa Building on Wednesday (28/8/2024) and Thursday (29/8/2024). The festival was officially opened by UNS Rector, Prof. Dr. Hartono, dr., M.Si.
Dr. rer. nat. Nurhadi, S.Ant., M.Hum., Chairperson of the 2024 MBKM Festival Committee, explained that the event aimed to showcase the products created through the MBKM program. Throughout 2024, students developed numerous innovations, which were displayed to the UNS academic community and the broader public.
This event also provided an opportunity to expand the market potential for outstanding products developed in Student Community Service (KKN) programs, fostered villages, and partner organizations. Various products from Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) were highlighted, aiming to elevate them to higher market levels.
In addition, there were exhibition booths that showcased the results of student organizations’ capacity-building programs (PPK Ormawa) and participants of the National Student Science Week (Pimnas). This event served as a rehearsal for upcoming national-level competitions.
“The participants of the 2024 MBKM Festival include groups from the KKN Program, fostered villages, partner villages, corporate partners, state-owned enterprise partners, local government partners, and MBKM Flagship,” Dr. Nurhadi stated during the opening report on Wednesday (28/8/2024).
A total of 200 booths showcased various works and products, including 352 KKN booths, 17 Wirausaha Merdeka (WMK) and Village Community Development and Empowerment Program (P2MD) booths, 10 Student Creativity Program (PKM) booths, 4 Program Ormawa Membangun Negeri (POMN) booths, 5 Partner Village booths, booths for the Certified Internship and Independent Study Program (MSIB), Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA), the Outstanding Students Association (Imapres), booths for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (PPKS), faculty booths, and more.
UNS Rector, Prof. Dr. Hartono, dr., M.Si., praised the vibrant atmosphere of the MBKM UNS 2024 Festival, emphasizing that it demonstrated UNS’s success in achieving flexibility and freedom in student learning. He expressed pride in UNS students’ ability to develop competencies across psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains.
“Through MBKM, we will continue to enhance students’ potential substantively, thereby narrowing the gap between graduates’ competencies and market demands,” Prof. Hartono said.
The MBKM UNS 2024 Festival featured a series of talk shows, sharing sessions, and various entertainment performances. On the first day, visitors were treated to sharing sessions on topics such as “Kolaborasi Mitra untuk Menyongsong Indonesia Emas 2024” and “Mari Mengabdi untuk Indonesia,” as well as acoustic performances by Akusara.
The second day’s talk shows covered two topics: “Ormawa Membangun Negeri: Inovasi dan Aksi (innovation and action)” and “PKM Center.” Another sharing session was held to promote various MBKM activities, including WMK and MSIB. Several outreach sessions were also conducted, including sessions by the PPKS UNS Task Force and the UNS Student Code of Ethics Assembly (MKEM). The day concluded with another exciting entertainment performance by Javakustik.
UNS Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Alumni, Prof. Dody Ariawan, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., officially closed the MBKM UNS 2024 Festival on Thursday, (29/8/2024). He expressed his gratitude to everyone who participated in and supported the success of the two-day event, with hopes that the valuable experiences gained by MBKM participants from various schemes would bring lasting benefits.
Humas UNS
Reporter: R. P. Adji
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
