Langsa- A total of 686 students from Universitas Samudra (Unsam) were accompanied by 48 Field Supervisors (DPL) as they conducted their Community Service Program (KKN) in the Aceh Tamiang Regency area from June 16th to July 18th, 2023. The official handover of Unsam’s KKN students for Period II of 2023 was conducted by the University’s Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ir. Hamdani, M.T., IPM, and represented by the Deputy Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Zulfri, S.T., M.M., M.T., IPM. The recipients of the students were represented by the Acting Regent of Aceh Tamiang Regency, Dr. Drs. Meurah Budiman, S.H., M.H., and the handover was facilitated by Aceh Tamiang Regional Secretary, Drs. Asra.
This handover event occurred in the courtyard of the Aceh Tamiang Regent’s Office and involved the distribution of students to each sub-district head as they prepared to depart for their respective KKN locations on Friday, June 16th, 2023.
In his address, the Vice Chancellor emphasized that KKN represents more than just an academic activity; it is a profound expression of care for social conditions, manifested through community service. It stands as a tangible embodiment of the Tri Dharma of College. Therefore, students are encouraged to utilize the knowledge they have acquired during their college years through KKN activities.
The theme chosen for this KKN, “Community Empowerment through Potential Innovation of Local Resources,” underscores the importance of leveraging local resources for community development.
“Please convey our warm regards to the community where you are placed. Remember, the community is a crucial partner of the College. Make the community an active participant in applying the knowledge you have acquired so that there is no divide or gap between higher education and society,” emphasized the Vice Chancellor’s message.
“We have high hopes that our students can carry themselves and adapt effectively within society, ensuring that they can later contribute in alignment with their acquired knowledge. This way, their innovative approach can serve as a valuable asset for the progress and development of rural communities,” he added emphatically.
The Acting Regent of Aceh Tamiang, represented by the Regional Secretary of the Aceh Tamiang Regency government, Drs. Asra and his staff warmly welcomed the KKN activities of Universitas Samudra. In his address, he highlighted the concerning trend of eroding ancestral cultural traditions that were once integral to our social life. One of these traditions is “gotong royong,” which embodies community cooperation in everyday village life.
“Nowadays, we can observe that activities such as cleaning places of worship, mosques, clearing ditches, and maintaining village roads are rarely carried out through mutual cooperation. This tradition has slowly faded within our society,” he conveyed in front of the hundreds of KKN students.
The Regional Secretary expressed his hope that the presence of 686 Unsam KKN students, dispersed across 98 villages in the Aceh Tamiang region, would serve as catalysts for positive change, even though he acknowledged that this task wouldn’t be easy. He emphasized that through KKN, the age-old tradition of mutual cooperation, which is deeply ingrained in the community’s heritage, could be rekindled within the villages.
He went on to note that the government has indeed allocated funds for the villages, but despite these resources, the transformation of the villages has been limited. Nevertheless, the combination of government funds and the inherent culture of mutual cooperation could provide a substantial foundation for the development of the villages.
“Dear KKN participants, we sincerely hope that your presence can be a genuine catalyst for change, something extraordinary, particularly in these 98 villages, which represent nearly half of the villages in the entire Aceh Tamiang region.”
“What strategies and approaches can you employ to revive the spirit of mutual cooperation in these villages, even though we acknowledge it won’t be easy? If this transformation can be achieved, it will be your collective efforts that serve as a form of charity, benefiting us in the afterlife. We aspire for your experiences here to evolve into valuable knowledge and practices that will bring benefits to countless individuals. We firmly believe that you will carry out your KKN responsibilities to the best of your abilities,” the Regional Secretary further emphasized.
During this event, the signing of the handover report was conducted jointly by the Deputy Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Regional Secretary of Aceh Tamiang. They were accompanied by Dr. Asnawi, M.Pd, the Chair of LPPM and PM Unsam, as well as the Assistant I for Government, Aceh Specialties, and the Welfare of the Aceh Tamiang People. Following this, the Regional Secretary presented KKN attributes to the student representatives.
The KKN student placements encompass 98 villages spread across 11 sub-districts within the Aceh Tamiang Regency, namely:
- Tenggulun Subdistrict
- Tamiang Hulu Subdistrict
- Bandar Pusaka Subdistrict
- Sekerak Subdistrict
- Vocational Youth Subdistrict
- Rantau Subdistrict
- Seruway Subdistrict
- Karang Baru Subdistrict
- Banda Mulia Subdistrict
- Manyak Payed Subdistrict
- Bendahara Subdistrict.
The KKN program is scheduled to take place from June 16th to July 18th, 2023. This handover ceremony was attended by several dignitaries and officials, including Unsam’s Deputy Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dr. Muhammad Zulfri, S.T., M.M., M.T., IPM; Dr. Asnawi, M.Pd, the Chairman of LPPM and PM Unsam; Muslimah, S.Si., M.Si, the Secretary of LPPM and PM Unsam; LPPM staff and PM; the leadership of the Regency Government of Aceh Tamiang, including Assistant I (Government, Aceh Specialties, and People’s Welfare) Aceh Tamiang District, Muslizar, S.Pd., M.M; the sub-district heads from the 11 sub-districts where the KKN is located; the DPL; and all students participating in KKN Period II of 2023. (Unsam Humas)