The gentle sound of gamelan drifted across the courtyard of the General Administrative Centre (PAU) Building of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on Tuesday (7/7/2026). Behind the strains of traditional music, the bergodo (a traditional Javanese ceremonial military procession, typically featuring soldiers in classical court attire accompanied by gamelan music) honor guard from Padukuhan Sambilegi Lor marched in procession, escorting the Community Service Program (KKN) Batch 120 field coordinators, Field Supervisors (DPL), and hundreds of group leaders to the deployment site.

The choice to present a bergodo procession was not merely a ceremonial opener, it was a symbol that every journey of service begins with respect for local culture and wisdom. For wherever students step during their KKN, they will encounter communities with their own values, traditions, and ways of life. Service does not begin by bringing answers, but by the willingness to listen, understand, and grow together with the community.

It was this spirit that accompanied the departure of 3,725 UIN Sunan Kalijaga students who this year are conducting their KKN across various regions of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, a number of areas outside DIY, regions beyond Java, and as far afield as Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. They carry the knowledge acquired in the lecture hall to be developed together with communities through various service programs oriented toward empowerment and sustainability.

Yet behind the steps of these thousands of students lies a collective effort involving many parties. The Chair of the Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Dr. Abdul Qoyum, affirmed that the conduct of KKN Batch 120 is the result of synergy built together with various stakeholders.

“Community service cannot possibly be carried out by the campus alone. KKN is a collaborative space that brings together universities, government, communities, the business world, and various strategic partners toward a common purpose, delivering benefit to society while providing a space for learning and service for students,” he said.

Dr. Qoyum explained that this collaboration begins within the university itself. LPPM coordinates the entire conduct of KKN together with university leadership, supported by administrative staff from various units overseeing the processes of administration, data management, student placement, logistics, and various other technical needs. Meanwhile, the hundreds of lecturers serving as Field Supervisors ensure that every service program rests on a strong academic foundation that is relevant to community needs.

He also expressed appreciation to all parties who have supported the conduct of KKN Batch 120.

“On behalf of LPPM UIN Sunan Kalijaga, we extend our gratitude to the university leadership, field supervisors, administrative staff working behind the scenes, regional governments and village administrators who have opened space for students to learn and serve, and all strategic partners who have accompanied the implementation of this KKN,” he said.

One of the partners involved from the preparatory stage was the Bank Indonesia Representative Office for the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Its head, Sri Darmadi Sudibyo, was present to provide briefing on the potential for community economic empowerment through the strengthening of financial literacy, economic digitalization, and the optimization of local potential that students can develop during their KKN.

Support was also provided by Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), which contributed to strengthening KKN implementation as part of its partnership with UIN Sunan Kalijaga. Meanwhile, through synergy with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan (Indonesia's Social Security Agency for Employment), KKN student participants received social security protection throughout their service in various regions.

The involvement of these various partners reflects the strength of the collaborative ecosystem that UIN Sunan Kalijaga, particularly through LPPM, continues to build, enriching students' learning and service experiences.

“LPPM endeavors to create a collaborative space that brings the campus together with government, the business world, state institutions, and communities. Through this partnership, students gain not only academic guidance, but also broader perspectives, networks, and experience in designing and implementing service programs that are relevant to community needs,” he said.

This is the spirit that has been distilled into the theme of KKN Batch 120: “Pemanfaatan Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Inovasi Pengabdian untuk Pembangunan Berkelanjutan” (Harnessing Knowledge and Service Innovation for Sustainable Development). The theme, he noted, affirms that the knowledge students possess will deliver broader impact when combined with innovation, partnership, and respect for the potential and local wisdom of communities.

The deployment of thousands of students on that morning was therefore only the beginning of a larger journey. Behind every KKN vest worn by a student lies the gotong royong of many parties, all working together to ensure that service runs well. From the campus, lecturers, and administrative staff, to government, communities, and strategic partners, all are part of a shared endeavor to deliver service that is impactful for society and contributes to sustainable development. (humassk)