BSKDN Invites Cenderawasih University Students to Develop Innovation Based on Local Wisdom

The Head of the Domestic Policy Strategy Agency (BSKDN) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Yusharto Huntoyungo, has invited students undertaking community service (KKN) from Cenderawasih University (Uncen) to deliver innovations based on local wisdom to encourage sustainable development in the Kepulauan Yapen Regency. According to Yusharto, the potential possessed by the community will have a greater impact if developed through an innovative approach involving collaboration between universities, local government, and the community. This was conveyed during a Community Empowerment event based on Local Wisdom and Strengthening the Creative Economy in Kepulauan Yapen Regency, which was combined with the symbolic send-off of Uncen KKN students at the Uncen Auditorium in Jayapura on Thursday (16/7). In his presentation, Yusharto emphasised that the implementation of KKN is not only part of fulfilling academic obligations. This activity is also a space for students to implement their knowledge in answering various development challenges within the community. “The presence of students must be able to provide added value to the community. KKN is an opportunity to produce innovative solutions, strengthen community empowerment, and optimise local potential as capital for regional development,” he stated. Yusharto explained that the Kepulauan Yapen Regency has a variety of potential that can be developed into new economic strengths, ranging from the fisheries, agriculture, and tourism sectors to the cultural wealth of indigenous peoples. He believes that all this potential needs to be managed creatively without abandoning the values of local wisdom that have been passed down through generations. He assessed that local wisdom is not merely a cultural heritage, but social capital that can serve as a foundation for creating regional innovations relevant to the community’s needs. Therefore, KKN students are expected to be able to explore this potential, develop it into various empowerment programmes, and simultaneously encourage the creation of greater economic value for the community. “We do not always have to start from something new. Many solutions actually emerge from the local strengths that the community already possesses. Your task is to help develop this potential through approaches that are more innovative, creative, and adaptive to the times,” he said. In addition to 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 period ends. Thus, the benefits of the service do not stop at ceremonial activities but are capable of creating sustainable change. Yusharto added that the success of regional development is not only determined by the size of the budget or infrastructure development, but also by the quality of human resources capable of creating innovations that match the characteristics of their region. Therefore, universities have a strategic role as partners of local governments in strengthening community capacity through research, service, and innovation.