EduAsiaNews, Jakarta – The Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) at Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) has begun preparing a roadmap for its 2027 Community Development Program through a focus group discussion (FGD) with village officials and residents at the Tanjungsari District Sports Hall in Bogor regency on Wednesday (June 24, 2026).
The meeting sought to identify community needs and local potential that could be developed through research and community service programs. Moringa, local coffee, public health, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and tourism were among the key issues discussed.
The FGD brought together representatives from UPNVJ faculties and work units, the heads of Tanjungsari and Sirnasari villages, and local residents. It served as an initial step toward setting program priorities for 2027, ensuring that the university’s Community Development Program is not driven solely by academic perspectives but also responds to the community’s actual needs.
Residents identified moringa and local coffee as two commodities with potential for further development. The initiatives could include research, production assistance, product innovation and productive business activities aimed at creating added value for local communities.
The head of LPPM UPNVJ said the development of programs in the area was still at an early stage. UPNVJ would therefore work gradually with village authorities, land managers and residents to ensure that the programs reflect local conditions and have the potential to be sustained.
One of the opportunities discussed was developing moringa from cultivation to downstream processing, including research and the development of economically valuable products. The planned use of UPNVJ-owned land in Tanjungsari for moringa cultivation will also be coordinated further with the land management team.
Local coffee was another area of interest. In addition to exploring ways to increase the value of coffee products, FGD participants discussed the potential use of coffee-processing waste as fertilizer. The idea could involve academics from multiple disciplines, including technology, environmental studies, economics and community empowerment.
The FGD also identified several social and health concerns. Tanjungsari village officials said residents still needed greater access to education on early marriage, reproductive health and sexuality. Concerns about diabetes in relation to the consumption of ready-to-drink beverages were also raised as part of discussions on developing health education programs tailored to local conditions.
Faculty representatives and the coordinator of UPNVJ Community Territory (UCT) responded by mapping potential forms of support according to their respective areas of expertise. One proposal was to develop moringa-based food products, including snacks for children with special needs. The proposal will require further research and assessment before it can be implemented in the community.
The Community Development Program discussions also covered local economic development. UPNVJ and residents explored opportunities to map potential halal tourism sites and provide assistance to MSME operators seeking certification. The initiative is expected to create opportunities for collaboration in research, community service and entrepreneurship development.
The UPNVJ team participating in the FGD included the head of LPPM, heads of the Center for Research, Center for Community Service and Business Incubator Center, the vice dean for academic and student affairs of the Faculty of Health Sciences, the vice dean for academic affairs of the Faculty of Economics and Business, the vice dean for academic and student affairs of the Faculty of Engineering, the UCT coordinator, the head of the General Affairs Division and LPPM staff.
Input from village officials and residents will be compiled as the basis for determining UPNVJ’s research and community service priorities for 2027. By adopting an approach based on community needs and local potential, the Community Development Program roadmap is expected to connect expertise from across UPNVJ’s faculties with real-world challenges in the community, helping ensure that its programs deliver measurable and sustainable benefits.(www.upnvj.ac.id)
