Singaraja- Ganesha University of Education (Undiksha) encourages students to participate in developing the village’s potential. This is demonstrated through the Holistic Village Development and Empowerment Program (PHP2D). This was conveyed by the Deputy Chancellor of Undiksha for Student Affairs, Alumni and Public Relations, Prof. Dr. I Wayan Suastra, M.Pd., while attending community service activities carried out by the Student Reasoning and Student Scientific Work Activity Unit (UKM-PKIM) in Sidatapa Village, Banjar District, Buleleng, Sunday (29/11/2020).
Suastra said various problems still entangled the village. As is the case in Sidatapa Village, which has not been able to develop village potential, such as tourism, agriculture, crafts, and business to the fullest as a result of the lack of a touch of technology. It is believed that the same thing is still happening in many villages, especially in Bali. As an academic institution, this issue needs to be of concern, including among students. “I often remind students to make activities that touch the community more often. So the activities on campus need to be rationalized,” he said.
As explained further, PHP2D is a form of activity outside the campus. This is the direction of the independent learning and independent campus policies rolled out by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia. “Because independent learning on campus and independence leads to activities outside the campus, one of the forms that can later be converted with credits, for example, PHP2D,” said this academic from Klungkung Regency.
Suastra added that Undiksha intensively rolled out a community service program through the Research and Community Service Institute. Regarding the hopes of the Sidatapa Village government so that there is a touch of technology for developing village potential, Undiksha is stated to be ready to support. The village government is expected to submit a request for cooperation which will later be used as the basis for designing the program. “As the village head has said, let a letter be made to the Chancellor to be forwarded to the department in charge. So that later community empowerment programs will be designed according to needs,” he added.
Headman of Sidatapa, Ketut Budiasa appreciated the existence of PHP2D from the Undiksha team and the community service program carried out by UKM-PKIM. However, his party hopes that there will be ongoing collaboration with Undiksha in order to awaken the village’s potential through a touch of technology. “Hopefully Undiksha as an institution engaged in student affairs can collaborate in terms of providing appropriate information so that technology can be accepted by our society,” he said.
Meanwhile, specifically for the community service program, basic food assistance was distributed for the elderly, masks and hand sanitizers, and delivery of pig livestock seeds and banana trees. The implementation of this program is also a follow-up of PHP2D which was running before. (hms)
