UAD Deploys 18 Students for Thematic Community Service Programme in Salam
Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) has officially deployed 18 students for a Thematic Community Service Programme (KKN) in Salam Village, located in Salam District, Magelang Regency, Central Java. The launch took place at the Salam Village Hall on Friday (26/6/2026). The programme carries the theme ‘Empowerment of Assisted Villages through Waste Management Innovation and Sociopreneurship towards an Environmentally-Based Tourism Village Pioneer’.
The deployment marks the beginning of the KKN programme, which involves students from various study programmes at UAD. The 18 students are divided into two KKN units and are accompanied by Field Supervisor Ir Utaminingsih Linarti.
This thematic KKN is part of a community service initiative implemented by a team of UAD lecturers, chaired by Ir Okka Adiyanto, with members Ir Utaminingsih Linarti and Ir Farid Ma’ruf. The programme successfully secured a Community Service Grant for 2026 from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemdiktisaintek RI).
The launch event was attended by the Head of Salam Village, Zuhanif, along with Salam Village Government officials, and a representative from Salam District, Harjono. The presence of village and district government officials demonstrated full support for the collaboration between the university and the community in achieving sustainable village development.
In his remarks, the Head of the Community Service Team, Ir Okka Adiyanto, stated that this year’s Thematic KKN holds special value as it is implemented concurrently with a lecturer community service programme, both funded by Kemdiktisaintek RI. ‘This Thematic KKN is very special because it runs in parallel with the lecturer community service programme which also received funding from Kemdiktisaintek. Thus, students are not only carrying out KKN but are also directly involved in implementing a research and service-based community empowerment programme,’ Okka said.
Okka further explained that the Thematic KKN provides academic benefits for students. The programme can serve as an accelerated form of KKN completion, meaning students do not have to wait until their seventh semester as required by the regular KKN programme. ‘This activity can serve as a KKN credit bank for students. This means students can complete their KKN obligations earlier, potentially accelerating their study period in their respective study programmes,’ he explained.
Moreover, Okka revealed that the Thematic KKN has been designed to recognise several courses across various study programmes. This scheme provides students with the opportunity to gain academic recognition for activities carried out during the KKN. ‘With course recognition, students can achieve learning outcomes while fulfilling some academic loads. The hope is that this can accelerate on-time graduation for UAD students,’ he added.
Concluding his remarks, Okka motivated all KKN participants to carry out the programme with full dedication. Although the duration of the Thematic KKN is relatively longer than the regular KKN, he is optimistic that the experience gained will be far more meaningful. ‘Even though this Thematic KKN lasts longer than the regular KKN, I hope all students remain enthusiastic. By carrying the motto ’Salam Berkarya, Salam Berdaya’ (Greetings of Work, Greetings of Empowerment), let us make this KKN a platform to implement the knowledge gained in lectures, enrich experiences, and provide real benefits to the people of Salam Village,’ he said.
Through the synergy between the university, village government, and the community, the Salam Village Thematic KKN is expected to generate various innovations in waste management, develop sociopreneurship, and serve as a foundation towards an independent, sustainable, and competitive environmentally-based tourism village pioneer. This programme also strengthens Universitas Ahmad Dahlan’s commitment to carrying out the three pillars of higher education through community service that delivers a real impact on village development.