Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN), or the Community Service Program, is one of 51¶¯Âþ™s () core academic initiatives designed to provide students with hands-on learning experiences through community engagement beyond the campus. More than just fieldwork, KKN helps bridge academia and society by promoting the application of knowledge, technology, and the arts in response to evolving societal needs.
Long before UNAIR implemented its own KKN program, three other Indonesian universities”Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Hasanuddin, and Universitas Andalas”had launched similar initiatives in 1971. These early programs were inspired by a 1967 Higher Education Development memorandum that emphasized the importance of student involvement in rural areas. That document marked the conceptual beginning of KKN in Indonesian higher education. In February 1972, the program”then broadly categorized as community service”received further national support following an endorsement from President Soeharto.
KKN at UNAIR: How it started
At that point, UNAIR had not yet formally adopted KKN, though each faculty already conducted community service in various forms. One such initiative was the Bimas program, which shared many similarities with KKN and laid the foundation for its later institutionalization at the university.
Interest in a structured KKN program grew, culminating in a student-led panel discussion. The then-president of UNAIR™s Student Council (Dema), Drs. Med. Hadi Hartono, expressed hope that the dialogue would inform the council™s policy stance and drive further efforts to integrate KKN into university life.
As momentum built, KKN was gradually introduced across various faculties starting in the 1989/1990 academic year. It officially became a mandatory, credit-bearing course following the Rector™s Decree No. 3067/PT.03/H/1989, issued on April 22, 1989. The course carried three academic credits, although some faculties were exempt due to internal regulations.
How KKN is assessed
The evaluation of KKN activities involves three key stages: pre-deployment training, fieldwork, and final presentation. During the preparatory phase, Field Supervising Lecturers (DPL) deliver orientation lectures at each faculty. In the next phase, students are deployed to selected communities to assess local conditions and identify areas where they can contribute. The program culminates in a scientific seminar, where students present their findings. These evaluations are attended by the participating students, local residents, supervising faculty, government officials, and representatives from UNAIR™s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPKM).
Thematic Programs: From KKN-U to KKN-BBK
Several thematic variations of KKN have been developed in response to shifting community needs. The first was KKN-Usaha (KKN-U), introduced to address urban social issues and implemented over two periods between 1999 and 2000. The second, KKN-Berbasis Kompetensi (KKN-BK), launched in 2000, focused on exploring local economic potentials and resolving social challenges. This version ran through the second semester of the 2007“2008 academic year.
KKN-BK encouraged students to identify and develop economically viable local resources through grassroots activities. Its success led to the creation of a third model: KKN-Belajar Bersama Masyarakat (KKN-BBM), or Learning with the Community. This program emphasized mutual learning between students and communities, allowing both parties to jointly identify challenges and design solutions by combining student expertise with community knowledge.
KKN-BBM has since evolved into KKN-Belajar Bersama Komunitas (KKN-BBK), or Learning with Communities. This program is now UNAIR™s flagship community service initiative, managed by the university™s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM). The rebranding was intended to align more closely with the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) policy introduced by the Ministry of Education, now known as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Innovation (Kemendiktisaintek). Through this ongoing evolution, UNAIR™s KKN programs continue to foster real-world impact for both students and the communities they serve.
Source: Buku Mendidik Bangsa Membangun Peradaban: Sejarah 51¶¯Âþ
Author: Ahza Riga Falimbani
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
