

Bandung, Indonesia – Dr. Drs. Herman Suryatman, M.Si., the Regional Secretary of West Java Province with a team of assistants, paid a visit to Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) in order to discuss all preparation activities for the upcoming execution of West Java Thematic Community Service Program (KKN Tematik). The delegation arrived at UPI’s rectorate building on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, and was received directly by UPI’s Rector in the meeting room on the 3rd floor of University Center Building, Jl. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229, Bandung, UPI Campus.
This visit followed up on the MoU that had been done previously between the West Java Provincial Government and UPI on collaboration related to the development of West Java. One of the critical points of the agreement is that UPI will conduct the Thematic KKN program in collaboration with the West Java Provincial Government in August 2024 for 3,000 students.
“Previously, we welcomed the Rector of UPI and his staff into Gedung Sate, where we discussed on ways for furthering West Java and radically reducing the macro development indicators, especially those in areas of stunting, unemployment, and poverty,” explained Secretary Herman Suryatman.
Extra added that the development required by West Java Province must be accelerated. Of course, this can be done only if there is cooperation from the various parties, such as UPI.
“UPI provides an opportunity and a challenge on how we can optimize the implementation of KKN. Based on this, the West Java Provincial Government team visited UPI to delve deeper into the UPI Thematic KKN. It is expected that at least 3,000 UPI students shall be deployed to West Java’s districts/cities, with a priority to those within the Bandung Basin area,” he explained.
This program will be focused on the reduction of stunting and waste management that has highly concerned the West Java Provincial Government. With this collaboration, the stunting and waste management, especially in the Bandung Basin, can be well addressed to considerably reduce stunting while improving waste management. This is to be done by increasing the public’s awareness of not disposing of organic waste into piles of trash.
“At the very least, we are now targeting zero food waste from households and zero new cases of stunting. We will roll out the initiatives in the districts/cities within the Bandung Basin in collaboration with local governments,” he added.
The program is being designed presently, and the aim is for it to be hopefully executed in the field soon. All is in the effort to hasten the development of West Java.
Secretary Herman Suryatman hopes that the thematic KKN on stunting reduction and waste management will succeed in giving the most benefits to the community at large. He also expects this activity to give a lot of valuable experience to the students in the context of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka concept.
“KKN’s response time varies from 3 to 4 months, of course, it will give extraordinary experience and impact so as to place students in placing their knowledge in context and sharpen perspective and socio-cultural competencies,” he expressed his hope.
He added that the students would not only be academically intelligent but also in leadership to go out there and pour their knowledge into the community.
“The Thematic KKN is expected to be a platform for honing students’ socio-cultural competencies. I believe this is a win-win solution that benefits the community, the local government, UPI, and the students, too,” he said emphatically.