BSKDN Head Invites Students to Drive Innovation Based on Local Wisdom for Yapen Islands' Progress

The Head of the Domestic Policy Strategy Agency (BSKDN) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Yusharto Huntoyungo, has invited students from Cenderawasih University (Uncen) to become agents of change capable of delivering innovation based on local wisdom to advance the Yapen Islands Regency. He stated that the potential within local communities would have a more sustainable impact if managed through innovative approaches involving collaboration between universities, local government, and the public. This was conveyed during a community empowerment event themed around local wisdom and strengthening the creative economy in Yapen Islands Regency, which was held alongside the symbolic send-off for Uncen’s KKN students at the Uncen Auditorium in Jayapura on Thursday, 16 July 2026. In his presentation, Yusharto stressed that the KKN programme is not merely an academic obligation but a space for students to apply their knowledge in addressing real development challenges within the community. He explained that the Yapen Islands Regency possesses diverse potential that can be developed into new economic strengths, ranging from fisheries and agriculture to tourism and the cultural wealth of indigenous communities. He noted that all this potential must be managed creatively without abandoning the local wisdom values passed down through generations. He assessed that local wisdom is not just a cultural heritage but a social asset that can serve as a foundation for creating regional innovations relevant to the community’s needs. He added that students are expected to explore this potential, develop it into empowerment programmes, and encourage the creation of greater economic value for the community. Beyond producing work programmes during their service period, students are also expected to leave behind good practices that can be continued by the community and local government after the KKN concludes, ensuring the benefits create sustainable change rather than ending with ceremonial activities. He added that the success of regional development is not solely determined by budget size or infrastructure development, but also by the quality of human resources capable of creating innovations suited to the region’s characteristics.