Universitas Brawijaya (UB) carries out the International Collaborative Real Work Lecture (KKN) for the first time. The first International Collaborative Community Service Program was conducted in Ekang Anculai Village, Teluk Sebong District, Bintan Regency, Riau Islands.
Director of the Directorate of Cooperation and Internationalization of UB Karuniawan Puji Wicaksono, S.P., M.P., Ph.D said, as many as 10 UB students have been dispatched since Monday (01/08/2022), and will carry out KKN activities for two weeks.
“This is the first time that UB conducts International Collaborative Community Service Program. Since we provide guidance and assistance in the outermost regions of Indonesia, we invite neighboring countries to collaborate,” he explained.
This collaboration was carried out with Polytechnic of Bintan Cakrawala (Bintan), Science University (Malaysia), and International Islamic University (Malaysia).
He added that the selection of Bintan Regency as the location for KKN was based on the development of border areas.
“Our goal is to help prepare border areas so that they are not left far behind from areas in the center. Besides that, it also increases UB’s internationalization activities,” said the lecturer of the Faculty of Agriculture.
This collaborative KKN program focuses on developing integrated agro-industry and agro-tourism models for independent villages.
“During these two weeks, UB students and students from Malaysia interact directly with the local community and provide assistance for the development of agriculture, citrus plants, processed community products, and tourism,” he said.
Meanwhile, at a coordination meeting with the local government, Thursday (04/08/2022), Assistant 1 for Government Affairs of Bintan Regional Secretariat Wan Rudi Iskandar expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the KKN participants. He assured that Bintan Regency Government was ready to support all progress-oriented activities and programs.
“We thank the universities that have collaborated in the practice of implementing international Collaborative Community Service Program. We hope that this activity will be able to provide benefits to the surrounding community and hopefully all parties from the University will also feel at home while in Bintan, “he concluded. [Irene/ Humas UB/ Trans. Iir]
