Edu Asia New,The Person in Charge of the KKN program, who also serves as Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Alumni of UNS, Prof. Ir. Dody Ariawan, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., IPU., stated that the program for this period involves 2,050 students and 73 Field Supervising Lecturers (Dosen Pembimbing Lapangan/DPL). They will carry out community service activities for 45 days, from January 6 to February 19, 2026. The students are divided into 185 groups and assigned to 165 villages and urban communities, spread across 85 sub-districts, 33 regencies, and 9 provinces throughout Indonesia.
The distribution of KKN locations includes the regions of Bali, Banten, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, and Southeast Sulawesi. This wide geographical coverage reflects UNS’s commitment to continuously be present and contribute tangibly to communities across the Indonesian archipelago.
In its implementation, the UNS Thematic KKN for this period is developed under several major themes. A total of 93 groups are carrying out Partnership-Based Thematic KKN, both within and outside Java Island.
Meanwhile, the themes of the regular KKN programs include Integrated Agriculture, Independent Food Security, Education, Assistance and Community Empowerment Based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Development of Disaster-Resilient Villages, MSME Development, and Strengthening of Village Institutions.
In addition, an inter-university student collaboration program with Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa is currently underway, involving 27 students. “Some students have departed earlier, particularly to locations outside Java Island, to adjust to sea transportation schedules. All KKN work programs are designed to support the programs of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and are aligned with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so that the benefits of the activities can be measurable and sustainable,” explained Prof. Dody.
Prof. Dody emphasized that the main principles of KKN implementation are education, assistance, and community empowerment, with the expectation that beneficiary communities will become more independent and empowered after the KKN activities conclude.
To ensure the smooth implementation of the KKN program, students have received various forms of preparatory training, including disaster response, student code of ethics, prevention and handling of sexual violence, as well as administrative training and work program planning. In addition, students receive program funding support of IDR 1,000,000 per student, distributed through the group treasurer’s account, as well as safety coverage through participation in BPJS Employment Insurance.
“All preparations have been carried out optimally. We hope that the implementation of the UNS Thematic KKN for the January–February 2026 period will provide tangible and sustainable impacts for beneficiary communities throughout Indonesia,” said Prof. Dody.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Ahmad Zabadi, S.H., M.M., conveyed a message encouraging students to take advantage of the KKN momentum as a platform for service and learning, particularly in strengthening the cooperative movement through the Merah Putih Cooperative. The Merah Putih Cooperative is not merely an economic institution, but also a manifestation of the spirit of mutual cooperation (gotong royong) and people’s self-reliance. Cooperatives are expected to empower communities to become more capable and actively involved in economic development within their local environments.
“KKN students have an important role as agents of change. They can help improve public understanding of cooperatives, assist MSMEs, and encourage innovation and digitalization of village cooperatives. I hope that UNS students participating in KKN will carry out their duties with integrity, professionalism, and full responsibility. Continue to serve and contribute to an economically self-reliant Indonesia,” said Ahmad Zabadi.
In his remarks, the Rector of UNS, Prof. Dr. Hartono, dr., M.Si., stated that Thematic KKN is designed based on local needs and potential, and implemented through cross-stakeholder collaboration. One of the key focuses in this period is strengthening village institutions, realized through synergy with the Ministry of Cooperatives of the Republic of Indonesia in strengthening Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) and developing cooperatives, including the Merah Putih Cooperative. This collaboration is expected to promote professional governance of BUMDes, strengthen cooperatives as the backbone of the village economy, and enhance community capacity in managing collective enterprises based on mutual cooperation.
The Rector of UNS advised all students participating in Thematic KKN to uphold the good name of UNS, build harmonious cooperation with village governments and local communities, and work with empathy, solution-oriented approaches, and responsibility. “On behalf of the University leadership, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all partners and institutions that have supported the implementation of this Thematic KKN period. Thank you for the cooperation, trust, and opportunities provided to UNS students to contribute and learn together with the community. To the Field Supervising Lecturers, we extend our highest appreciation for their dedication and commitment in mentoring students, ensuring that the KKN program runs in a well-directed manner and delivers meaningful impact,” he concluded.
UNS Public Relations
