Online Student Study Service in Manggis Village, Puncu District, Kediri Regency, done by ITS students

ITS Campus, ITS News — The current Covid-19 pandemic is not an obstacle for Sepuluh November Institute of Technology (ITS) students to give benefits to the community. Collaborating with the Government of Kediri Regency, ITS students help improve the economy in Manggis Village, Puncu District, Kediri Regency, through online Student Study Service (KKN). This activity lasted for 14 days from Thursday (5/14).

One of the Student Study Service supervisors in Manggis Village, Lissa Rosdiana Noer, S.T., M.M.T., explained that Student Study Service is a form of community service done by academicians through counseling and exchanging of ideas and information to solve problems that occur in the community.

“This program is an appropriate tool for students to practice leadership and social awareness for the surrounding environment, as well as to hone students’ soft skills and hard skills,” emphasized this lecturer who is familiarly called Sasa.

This time, the ITS Thematic Student Study Service was carried out in several villages in Kediri Regency, one of which was Manggis Village. The Student Study Service team in Manggis village itself was fostered by Sasa and her two colleagues, namely Endarko, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., as coordinator and Muhammad Hafiizh Imaaduddiin, S.T., M.T.

Students involved in the ITS Thematic Student Study Service program are students who are members of the Insight and Application of Technology course, with a total of 1,500 students. As for the implementation in Manggis Village, the participating students belong to classes 34, 35, E, and 29, with a total of 147 students.

According to Sasa, this year’s Student Study Service was set after the Student Study Service team had a discussion with Head of Manggis Village, Ratna Pinawati, S.E., which follows “Covid-19 Counseling, Intelligence for Small and Medium Enterprises and Mushroom Agro Tourism to Help Population Health and Welfare”.

She further conveyed that the theme was chosen because the village of Manggis already had experience in selling mushroom products and independent agro-tourism. However, the results obtained are not good because there is no promotion to support these activities. This causes the source of income of rural communities to become unstable.

Counseling related to Covid-19 by ITS students through Online Student Study Service in Manggis Village, Puncu District, Kediri Regency

In addition, ITS students attempted counseling on the production process of mushroom products and how to introduce those products. From the counseling, it is expected to be able to increase the income of villagers. Previously, residents only sold raw products and were not supported by adequate promotions and publications.

Sasa further elaborated that participating students in the ITS Thematic Student Study Service provide counseling related to Covid-19 countermeasures. This is very important so that the strategy to break the spread chain of the virus can be realized immediately.

“Certainly what we give to the people of Manggis Village is an innovation from students to solve problems that have occurred before,” continued the lecturer of the Insight and Application of Technology course.

Regarding online Student Study Service implementation, Sasa revealed that it encourages students who take the program to be more creative and active in implementing activities. She mentioned that the counseling activities were carried out online and used material exposure through video media.

“Students also carry out continuous interactive discussions through online media with related parties to find out what are the obstacles and shortcomings in the counseling given,” she revealed.

Sasa admitted that the community, especially residents in the village of Manggis, must have been very enthusiastic about seeing the Student Study Service Program. He revealed that the counseling program provided by students in an effort to solve the problems found in the community. “It is hoped that the counseling program will be able to solve existing problems and provide positive benefits to the community in the future,” she hoped. (fat/lut/ory)