UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta Dispatches 3,725 Students for Community Service, 20 Selected to Serve in Four Countries
Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta has dispatched 3,725 students to participate in the 120th Community Service Programme (KKN) for 2026. Of these, 20 students were selected for international placements after passing programme presentation and interview stages. The 20 students will be stationed in Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea, with five students assigned to each country. The remaining students will undertake regular KKN programmes within the Special Region of Yogyakarta and various other regions across Indonesia.
Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Prof Noorhaidi, stated that this year’s KKN adopts the theme ‘Utilising Knowledge and Service Innovation for Sustainable Development’. He noted that this is one of the university’s largest community service programmes, with a scope extending internationally. ‘You have also heard from the Head of LPPM how we strive to support an exceptional KKN. The international KKN to Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Malaysia involves significant funding. There are also placements outside Java, including Aceh, West Kalimantan, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku,’ he said during the send-off ceremony on Tuesday.
The international and out-of-Java KKN programmes are supported by various partners, including the Yogyakarta Representative Office of Bank Indonesia. Prof Noorhaidi expressed hope that all participants would deliver programmes with a real, sustainable impact on communities, especially as UIN Sunan Kalijaga has established an SDGs Centre as a commitment to sustainable development. The university recently achieved a global ranking of 601–800 in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rankings. ‘KKN must make a real contribution to society. This sustainability theme is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, which are a global development agenda,’ he said. He urged students to demonstrate that UIN Sunan Kalijaga is a superior, leading university with a global reputation and to uphold the good name of their alma mater, along with morality, principles, ethics, and togetherness.
Dr Abdul Qoyum, Head of the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), confirmed that all participants have been registered with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan for protection during their service. Transport funds have also been disbursed to group leaders prior to departure. He advised students to prioritise safety during their activities.
Sabrina Nailah, a student selected for the Malaysia programme, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity. She will serve in Tanjung Sepat, Selangor, with five other students, focusing on education, financial literacy, early savings habits, sustainable lifestyles through organic fertiliser use and waste sorting, and a Cultural Day to introduce Indonesian culture to children of Indonesian migrants. ‘I want to serve because many immigrant residents there still lack access to education and economic opportunities,’ she said, hoping the programme would have a lasting impact.