BSKDN Invites Students to Develop Innovations Based on Local Wisdom

The Head of the Domestic Policy Strategy Agency (BSKDN) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Yusharto Huntoyungo, has invited students from Cenderawasih University (Uncen) participating in the Community Service Programme (KKN) to become agents of change capable of delivering innovations based on local wisdom to advance the progress of Kepulauan Yapen Regency. He stated that the students’ presence must provide added value for the community. The KKN programme is an opportunity to produce innovative solutions, strengthen community empowerment, and optimise local potential as capital for regional development. Yusharto made these remarks during a community empowerment event themed around local wisdom and strengthening the creative economy in Kepulauan Yapen Regency, which was held in conjunction with the symbolic send-off of Uncen KKN students at the Uncen Auditorium in Jayapura. He noted that local potential would have a more sustainable impact if managed through an innovative approach involving collaboration between higher education institutions, local government, and the community. Yusharto stressed that the KKN programme is not merely an academic obligation but a space for students to apply their knowledge in addressing various development challenges within society. He explained that Kepulauan Yapen Regency possesses diverse potential that can be developed into new economic strengths, ranging from fisheries, agriculture, and tourism to the cultural richness of indigenous communities. 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. Therefore, KKN students are expected to explore this potential, develop it into various empowerment programmes, and encourage the creation of greater economic value for the community. He added that solutions often emerge from the local strengths already possessed by the community, and the students’ task is to help develop this potential through more innovative, creative, and adaptive approaches suited to the times. 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. This ensures that the benefits of their service do not end with ceremonial activities but create sustainable change. Yusharto added that the success of regional development is determined not only by the size of the budget or infrastructure development but also by the quality of human resources capable of creating innovations suited to the region’s characteristics. Therefore, universities have a strategic role as partners of local governments in strengthening community capacity through research, service, and innovation.