As a part of responsibility to implement one point of Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi (the university’s three main purposes – education, research, and community service), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta through the Institute of Research and Community Service held a ceremony prior to sending 2189 students and 105 supervisors for Student Community Service (KKN – Kuliah Kerja Nyata) in front of UNS Head Office, dr. Prakosa, Tuesday (10/01/2017). Sulistyo Saputro, chief of UNS Institute of Research and Community Service, stated that the program will be executed in 20 regencies in Java and 10 locations outside Java. The locations outside Java are Bangka Belitung, Kalimantan Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Papua Barat, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Maluku, Kalimantan Barat, Bali, and an overseas location, Sabah, Malaysia.
Send-off Ceremony for KKN VI UNS Students in front of UNS Head Office
As part of his speech, Ravik Karsidi, the rector of UNS, explained that students are expected to share their knowledge and help local people to improve the quality of their lives. In the implementation, students should not merely teach the people, but also learn along with them. “There is enormous potential in our society. However, they are not capable of managing it yet. That is where university students need to provide the solutions by working in sinergy with society,” Ravik said.
Ravik also reminded the students to preserve the integrity of university, demonstrate discipline, and maintain the teamwork as materialisation of knowledge integration to be implemented in society. Besides working on community service, KKN is expected to be a means of introducing UNS to people in the locations of KKN. It is expected to let people know more about UNS achievements and major fields. “We have already educated the students about basic information regarding students selection process. Students can share this information to people and we wish they can be parts of UNS in the future,” Ravik added.