Minister urges students to deliver real-world solutions during community service programme

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar has invited university students to make the Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) a real laboratory for testing knowledge while delivering solutions to community problems. “Over the next month, students will meet directly with the community, understand the problems they face, and become part of the solution. KKN is not just an academic programme, but a laboratory of life that will shape leadership, empathy, and students’ ability to answer social challenges,” said the minister in a statement in Jakarta on Monday. He made the remarks while giving a public lecture for the briefing and departure of UIN Imam Bonjol students undertaking KKN at the university in Padang, West Sumatra. Muhaimin Iskandar sees the implementation of KKN as having very strong relevance to the community empowerment agenda. Through KKN, he said, students can help communities recognise their potential, strengthen citizens’ capacity, and encourage the emergence of various initiatives that support the progress of villages and nagari. He also urged students to use the KKN period as an opportunity to test various theories learned during lectures against the realities on the ground. According to him, the ability to connect theory and practice is an important asset for future leaders. “KKN is an opportunity to see firsthand how theory meets reality. From there, students will learn to understand community problems holistically and find solutions relevant to residents’ needs,” said Muhaimin Iskandar. He added that Indonesia needs more leaders who possess social empathy, integrity, and the ability to understand community problems from the grassroots. Therefore, the experience of interacting directly with the community during KKN is an important part of the process of shaping students’ character and leadership. He is optimistic that UIN Imam Bonjol students have great potential to become agents of change capable of contributing to the nation’s development in the future. “We hope that from this campus will emerge great ideas, innovations, and solutions that can answer the nation’s challenges. Make KKN a momentum to learn, serve, and strengthen the commitment to become leaders who have an impact on society,” said Muhaimin Iskandar.