UNAIR NEWS Started from a field study (PKL), students of folklore class of Indonesian Literature Department in Kemloko village, Nglegok Subdistrict, Blitar, developed the potential arts, creativity and natural resources of the village to be a tourism village. First thing the department did was to send the students for PKL in the village not far from Penataran Temple Blitar.
The lecturer of Folklore class, Dr. Trisna Kumala Satya Dewi, M.S., stated that folklore studies was not popular among students as they did not understand well about it. But in the fourth year, students understand it as a knowledge which is not only about cultural arts but also economic potentials.
Alhamdulillah, now the participants are quite a lot. Few years ago, there used to be fewer participants as they did not understand the course well, she said.
The steps of developing a tourism village in the foot of Kelud Mountain have shown results. Fendi Susilo, one of the locals who helps the development of tourism village, said that the village has various potentials to preserve the mataram culture which is full of values and philosophy. Furthermore, natural resources like koi fish and brown sugar can be interesting as well.
淲e檙e grateful because of UNAIR, our village is getting the attention. We got cocoa seed aid from European union. Next month the local government will also officially authenticate the village border stone built by UNAIR, he said.
Drs. Tubiyono, M.Si.,as a lecturer of Indonesian Literature UNAIR explained that the tourism village will be a culture laboratory for students and with the developments of koi fish, cocoa, and various creativities of the locals, Tubiyono expected other UNAIR studies can develop the village.
淚f it can develop well, we can collaborate with other studies such as with fishery, biology and public health, he said. 淎ll started by FIB, he added.
In a different occasion, Head of Indonesian Literature Department, Dwi Handayani, M.Hum., stated that the tourism village development was elaborated during the meeting with high ranked officials so the institution can give more attention in the future.
淣ext, we will present this tourism village development in Jakarta to represent UNAIR in Indonesian outstanding coordinator event, said one of outstanding department heads in UNAIR. (*)
Author: Nuri Hermawan
Editor: Dilan Salsabila
