MAKASSAR – The internationalization of higher education is realized not only through inter-university cooperation or academic mobility, but also through learning experiences that allow students to engage directly with the global community. In that spirit, Hasanuddin University (Unhas) sent off 113 students taking part in the International Community Service Program (KKN) who will carry out service and learning programs in six Asian countries.
For about 28 days, the students will take part in a range of activities based on service, collaboration, and knowledge exchange in Japan, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste.
The program is designed to strengthen the students’ capacity as graduates who are adaptable, competitive, and equipped with a global perspective in addressing the various challenges of community development.
The send-off for the International KKN participants was held in the Senate Room, Rectorate Building, on Wednesday (10 June) and was led by the Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. drg. Muhammad Ruslin, M.Kes., Ph.D,. Sp.BM(K).
Prof. Ruslin stressed that learning experiences at the international level are an important instrument in shaping students’ character and competencies in an increasingly dynamic era of globalization.
“Unhas students must be able to become adaptive learners and, at the same time, agents of change. International KKN gives students room to see the world from a broader perspective, to understand diversity, and to apply their knowledge to deliver real benefits to communities,” said Prof. Ruslin.
Prof. Ruslin further expressed hope that the participants would be the best representatives of Unhas throughout the program. Their presence in the host countries is expected not only to contribute to local communities, but also to strengthen the networks and cooperative relationships that Unhas has built with various international partners.
The Head of the KKN Subdirectorate at the Directorate of Educational Transformation and Learning Innovation (Transdiva) of Unhas, Dr. Ir. Syarifuddin Mabe Parenreng, S.T., M.T., IPU., explained that of the 113 participating students, 60 are joining the International KKN–Enrichment Program of the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG), carried out in Japan, China, Taiwan, and Thailand. Meanwhile, the other 53 students will carry out International KKN in Malaysia and Timor-Leste
According to Syarifuddin, International KKN is a form of experiential learning that allows students to apply their expertise directly in the community.
The program also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 1, 3, and 4, through various service activities that are impactful and sustainable.
“We hope the participants will not only bring knowledge to share with the community, but also bring home new experiences and perspectives that can enrich their learning process on campus,” said Syarifuddin.
The program also reflects Unhas’s commitment to providing learning experiences that go beyond the classroom and to preparing graduates who can contribute and collaborate in the global community. (*/mir)
Editor : Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.