International Journal Workshop and Clinic 2025: Strategies for Publishing in Reputable Journals

International Journal Workshop and Clinic 2025: Strategies for Publishing in Reputable Journals
In an effort to improve the quality of scientific publications by lecturers and researchers, Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) held the 2025 International Journal Workshop and Clinic on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the DPPM UII Meeting Room. The event featured two prominent experts in scientific publishing: Dr. Indri Dwi Aprilliyanti from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Ganjar Fadillah, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief of the Indonesian Journal of Chemical Analysis (IJCA) and a member of Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% scientists.

The Importance of Patience and “Divine Pathways” in Scientific Publishing
The event was officially opened by Prof. Ir. Eko Siswoyo, S.T., M.Sc.ES., Ph.D., IPU, representing the Vice Rector for Academic Development and Research, Prof. Dr. Jaka Nugraha, S.Si., M.Si., who was unable to attend. In his opening remarks, Prof. Eko emphasized that publishing in reputable international journals requires a high degree of patience.

“Rejection is common. In addition to hard work, there’s also a ‘luck factor’ we must pursue, including prayer as a form of what I call ‘divine pathways’,” he said.

The workshop was moderated by Prof. Dr. rer. soc. Masduki, S.Ag., M.Si., who guided discussions on various strategies for writing international journal articles, including data quality, methodological rigor, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Avoid Broad Topics and Unfocused Approaches
Dr. Indri Dwi Aprilliyanti, author of several Q1 Scopus-indexed articles, discussed common challenges faced by researchers when starting their studies.

“Many fall into the trap of choosing topics that are too broad without a clear focus, making it difficult to position their research within the existing literature,” she explained.

She warned that case-based approaches without clear research questions can lead to irrelevant findings.

“Identifying a phenomenon alone is not enough. You must narrow it down,” Indri asserted.

She outlined systematic steps for developing research ideas, including identifying current trends and different types of research gaps: theoretical, empirical, knowledge-based, and phenomenon-based.

Common Reasons for Rejection and Tips for Reviewers
Dr. Indri also shared some of the most common reasons manuscripts are rejected, including:

  1. Topic is too broad or too narrow
  2. Unclear research contribution
  3. Weak theoretical foundation
  4. Overly descriptive analysis
  5. Vague or unsubstantiated claims of contribution

As an experienced reviewer, she also offered practical tips:

“When reviewing a manuscript, ask yourself: What’s the most interesting point? Why would this paper be rejected? If I had to cut 40% of the content, what would I keep?”

Choose Engaging Topics and Utilize AI
Ganjar Fadillah, Ph.D., the second speaker, highlighted the importance of selecting topics that capture readers’ attention.

“The title and keywords must be strong. Use software tools to track current research trends,” he advised.

He demonstrated various tools for data processing and complex analysis that can significantly improve the quality of research.

“High-quality publications take time. AI can help speed up the writing process, but originality must never be compromised,” he noted.

Coaching Clinic: Hands-On Practice with Experts
Following the presentation sessions, participants joined a coaching clinic on article writing, guided directly by Ganjar Fadillah, Prof. Masduki, and Dr. Jaya Addin Linando, S.E., MBA. This session provided a valuable opportunity for participants to receive feedback and consultation on their manuscript drafts.

(Wid.HP)

UII Students Create Optimization Tool for Waste Incinerators

UII Students Create Optimization Tool for Waste Incinerators
KOTAGEDE – Students from Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) have developed an innovative optimization device for waste incinerators. This breakthrough was created by Abrar Radhitya Widyatmoko, Alvin Dhavi Juliano, Amin Sulaiman, and Muhammad Syahdan Sigit Maulana, who come from the Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, and Chemical Engineering programs at UII. The team was part of the UII Community Service (KKN) Program Period 70, under the Thematic Program for Integrated Elderly Care Services, held in Purbayan Subdistrict, Kotagede.

Abrar explained that the idea emerged after observing that most incinerators still experience problems managing residual combustion smoke. Uncontrolled emissions not only disturb public comfort but also pose significant health risks. To address this issue, the team designed an additional chimney equipped with a filtration system to reduce hazardous emissions produced during waste incineration.

The device operates on a simple yet effective concept. The auxiliary chimney is constructed with a downward bend, where two activated carbon filters are installed at the end to filter out the smoke. The process begins when smoke from the incineration enters the chimney and passes through the air filtration system. The activated carbon filters are capable of capturing harmful substances such as dioxins, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, and mercaptans, achieving up to 99% filtration efficiency. Once filtered, the cleaner air is released back into the environment.

In addition to providing environmental benefits, the innovation also responds to social challenges in waste management. In line with government regulations, waste must now be managed communally and may no longer be discarded individually. This has led to financial burdens for residents who must pay for waste collection services. With this more environmentally friendly incinerator, communities can manage their waste independently while minimizing pollution.

The optimization device is made using iron plate materials with an estimated production cost of approximately IDR 700,000 (around USD 45) per unit. The student team hopes the tool will provide a practical solution for communities dealing with air pollution from waste burning.

“We hope this device will offer real benefits and help the community manage their waste more safely and efficiently,” said Abrar.

The filtration unit was officially handed over at the conclusion of KKN UII Period 70 Thematic LLT, on Thursday, February 27, 2025. The handover was made to Mr. Siswanto, Head of Kampung Purbaya, and Mr. Arif, Head of RW 14, at the local waste collection point (TPS) in Kampung Purbayan. Local residents warmly welcomed the innovation and expressed hope that UII KKN students would continue to make meaningful contributions in waste management and environmental conservation.

(Widodo HP)

Photo Caption:
UII Rector visits the student innovation stand showcasing the Waste Incinerator Optimization Tool at the UII KKN Period 70 Thematic LLT Expo in Purbayan (Photo: Widodo)

UII Launches Indonesia’s First University-Based Elderly School

UII Launches Indonesia’s First University-Based Elderly School
KOTAGEDE, Yogyakarta – Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), in collaboration with the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), officially launched the first university-based elderly school in Indonesia. The launching ceremony was held at the Public Green Open Space (RTHP) Bumen RW 06, Purbayan Subdistrict, Kotagede District, Yogyakarta City, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

This Elderly School was established as a solution for the more than 1,000 elderly residents living in Purbayan, including 58 seniors requiring regular assistance for long-term care. The symbolic inauguration was marked by the presentation of ceremonial sashes to two elderly students by UII Rector Fathul Wahid and Muhammad Iqbal Apriansyah, SH, MPH, Head of BKKBN DIY.

UII Becomes Pioneer of University-Based Elderly School
In his remarks, UII Rector Fathul Wahid emphasized that the establishment of this elderly school reflects the university’s commitment to understanding social issues and potentials within the community.

“Elderly people want to remain independent and not be a burden to others. With a supportive ecosystem, everyone can age gracefully, feeling cared for,” said Fathul.

He also highlighted the importance of social interaction for the elderly. Sharing a personal experience from his time living in Bandung, he recounted how he frequently visited his landlady just for a chat.

“I didn’t bring any gifts, yet I was always sent home with food and snacks. Elderly people need someone to talk to,” he added.

BKKBN Support and Hopes for Nationwide Replication
Head of BKKBN DIY, Muhammad Iqbal Apriansyah, stated that Sekolah Lansia Maharani is the first elderly school in Indonesia to be run by a university and expressed hope that it could serve as a national model.

“There are already 16 elderly schools in DIY funded by state and regional budgets, and community initiatives. However, this is the first initiated by a university, located in Kalurahan Purbayan. We plan to promote this model for nationwide implementation,” said Iqbal.

He explained that the school curriculum consists of 12 learning modules delivered in 12 sessions, typically held once a month. Through this program, elderly participants have the opportunity to engage with peers, especially since many of them experience loneliness at home due to the busy lives of their children and grandchildren.

“From previous experiences with other elderly schools, we’ve seen very positive changes. Participants become more cheerful, talkative, and open. Physically, they are more active too, especially through sessions like elderly-friendly exercise classes,” he noted.

Thematic KKN Expo and UII Students’ Role in Elderly Empowerment
The launching of Sekolah Lansia Maharani also coincided with the Thematic KKN Expo on Integrated Elderly Care Services (LLT), part of UII’s community service programs in celebration of its 82nd anniversary.

Fathul shared that UII’s Thematic KKN has reached over 100 villages in six to seven regencies across Central Java and Yogyakarta. In this program, students are not only educators but also community partners who identify local potentials and challenges to design sustainable solutions.

“We always regard villages as partners, not as passive beneficiaries. Our goal is to grow together by understanding and supporting their strengths and needs,” he said.

A Vision for the Future of Elderly Education
The launch of Sekolah Lansia Maharani marks UII’s initial step in creating an elderly-friendly ecosystem. With ongoing support from higher education institutions and the government, it is hoped that similar schools can be established across Indonesia.

“We hope this school becomes a model for other regions. Since we will all become elderly someday, it is vital to prepare a caring and supportive environment,” concluded Fathul.

Through Sekolah Lansia Maharani, it is hoped that the elderly in Purbayan and surrounding areas will have access to meaningful learning, social engagement, and improved quality of life in their golden years.

(Widodo)

Photo Caption:
Ceremonial presentation of sashes to two elderly representatives of Sekolah Lansia Maharani by UII Rector, marking the official launch (Photo: Widodo)

Journal Management Workshop at UII: Enhancing the Quality of Scientific Publications

The Indonesian Islamic University (UII) is committed to continuously improving the quality of scientific publications through the implementation of appropriate journal management standards. To support better journal management, the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) UII held a workshop titled “Workshop on Journal Management for Journal Managers at UII” on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, in the Datar Meeting Room of the Prof. Dr. Sardjito Building, UII.

Ir. Eko Siswoyo, S.T., M.Sc.ES., Ph.D., the director of DPPM UII, expressed in his opening speech the hope that this workshop would provide participants with a better understanding and skills to improve journal management quality in accordance with national and international accreditation standards. This initiative aims to assist journal managers in maintaining the quality of scientific content, management aspects, data security, editorial management, and the technical skills required for scientific publication management.

During the workshop, participants received materials related to the management of scientific journals, technical skills in editorial management, and strategies for improving journal quality presented by the Head of the UII Journal House Team, Yuli Andriansyah, S.E., M.S.I. There were also materials on data security management presented by Ari Sujarwo, S.Kom., M.I.T. (Hons), Head of the Operations Division of UII’s Information System Agency.

In his presentation, Yuli Andriansyah emphasized the importance of collaboration among key roles, ranging from Editor-in-Chief to Language Editor. Several UII journals have also subscribed to specialized tools such as Scopus and ChatGPT to support editorial performance. This reflects UII’s commitment to producing high-quality publications.

According to Yuli Andriansyah, to obtain Scopus indexing, journals must meet several criteria, including peer-reviewed content, regular publication, and the presence of a publication ethics statement. Another distinctive feature is that the title and abstract of the articles must be presented in English. The journal Millah: Journal of Religious Studies is an example that has met these criteria. With the implementation of a strict peer-review process and support from the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform, Millah is committed to enhancing academic publication quality.

Meanwhile, Ari Sujarwo elaborated on specific journal services available at journal.uii.ac.id, the use of the Open Journal System (OJS) version 3, Cyber Security Maturity (CSM) information security standards from BSSN, as well as UII’s firewall and WAF from CloudFlare. Ari also highlighted three main elements in information security management for journals: confidentiality, where information should only be accessible to relevant parties (authors, reviewers, editors); integrity, emphasizing the validity of data sources and/or information; and availability, which is closely related to the ease of accessing papers/journals and the website.

In conclusion, the standardization of journal management not only brings UII closer to Scopus indexing but also supports international recognition of its academic contributions.

DPPM UII aims that after participating in the workshop, journal managers will understand the standards for managing scientific journals, apply data security management, formulate targeted quality strategies, and be able to identify and resolve operational obstacles in journal management.

With this initiative, UII hopes to maintain and enhance the position of the journals managed within the campus, thereby contributing more significantly to the development of science and technology in Indonesia.

NATIONAL SEMINAR DPPM UII: DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

KALIURANG (DPPM UII). Indonesia still faces significant challenges in waste management, particularly because most of its management systems still rely on open landfills (TPA). These landfills are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane, which has a global warming impact 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide. At the National Seminar organized by the Research and Community Service Directorate (DPPM) of the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) on October 16, 2024, at the K.H.A. Wahid Hasyim Building, Dr. Novrizal Taher, the Director of Waste Management from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), stated that to address this issue, Indonesia has established a National Strategy Policy (Jakstranas) targeting a 30% reduction in waste and 70% waste management by 2025. However, 2023 data shows that waste reduction has only reached 13.67%, while waste management stands at 48.12%, which is still far from the expected targets.

One of the government’s focuses to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction targets is through commitments under the Paris Agreement framework. Indonesia has prepared Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31.9% to 43.2% by 2030. In this effort, the government encourages the implementation of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) technology and sustainable recycling systems as a key strategy. WTE technology, which has been applied in several major cities such as Surabaya and Solo, processes waste into a source of electrical energy. It is hoped that this step can significantly improve waste management and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Future waste management in Indonesia will focus on a circular economy approach, where waste is transformed into energy sources and industrial raw materials. In addition to WTE technology, recycling is also expected to be a more environmentally friendly long-term solution. The government is also working to strengthen regulations related to the utilization of green technology, especially in reducing plastic waste from the production phase to final disposal. Thus, these steps are expected to reduce environmental pollution and slow down climate change.

In addition to Dr. Novrizal Taher, the committee also invited Oki Muraza, Ph.D, as the Senior Vice President of Research & Technology Innovation at PT. Pertamina, represented by Ismal Gamar. In his presentation, Ismal Gamar conveyed Pertamina’s commitment to transitioning to more sustainable energy and achieving net zero emissions. Pertamina has established two main visions: optimizing existing businesses and developing low-carbon businesses. One of the efforts made is the utilization of gas for the petrochemical industry and the development of a biofuel ecosystem. Pertamina collaborates with Mulawarman University to utilize local crops, such as sorghum and cassava, in bioethanol production, achieving a purity of 99.7%. This technological collaboration also involves Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) to support the bioethanol purification process, which is tested on vehicles with a bioethanol blend of 20% to 100%.

In addition, Pertamina is also exploring renewable energy sources from vegetable oils of plants such as nyamplung and kepuh for renewable fuel. Pertamina continues to develop other alternative energies, such as wind, solar, and geothermal power. Digital transformation is also implemented to monitor and improve the company’s operational efficiency, in line with the commitment to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

With various technological innovations and collaborations with universities and research institutions, Pertamina hopes this bioenergy program will not only contribute to national energy resilience but also provide social and economic benefits to the community, especially local farmers involved in the development of bioenergy. Pertamina is optimistic that these steps will create a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for Indonesia.

The event was officially opened by the Director of DPPM UII, Ir. Eko Siswoyo, ST., M.Sc.Es., Ph.D, representing the Rector of UII, after the report was delivered by the head of the organizing committee, who is also the Head of the UII Research Center, Prof. Dr.rer.soc. Masduki, S.Ag., M.Si. It concluded with a question-and-answer session and paper presentations from the seminar participants. Both hoped that the seminar, held regularly every year, would not only be used for sharing knowledge but also for building networks or collaborations.

(Wid)

Foto:

Question and answer atmosphere at the National Seminar “Development of New and Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Environment” (Foto: Widodo)

DPPM UII Initiates Community Service Program for Indonesian Diaspora in Singapore

(Singapore, May 12) The Indonesian Islamic University (UII), as one of the leading private universities in Indonesia, reaffirms its commitment to continuously developing international networks and providing high-quality higher education services to Indonesian citizens through teaching, research, and community service.

In an effort to strengthen its presence on the international stage, UII has initiated a community service program for the Indonesian diaspora in Singapore by partnering with the Education and Cultural Attaché (Atdikbud) of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore. The program includes a series of activities, such as limited discussions with Atdikbud KBRI Singapore, discussions with various Indonesian diaspora communities, creative non-fiction writing workshops, and field studies to the Indonesian diaspora community in Singapore. The Indonesian diaspora in Singapore currently numbers over 250,000 people with diverse professional backgrounds who are active in nation-building according to their respective fields of expertise.

Ir. Eko Siswoyo, S.T., M.Sc.ES., Ph.D, the Director of DPPM UII, stated in his speech that the cooperation aims broadly to establish academic collaboration between UII and the Indonesian diaspora as well as universities and academic communities in Singapore. Another goal is to develop short- and long-term programs to assist Indonesian citizens in Singapore and to enhance the public communication skills of the Indonesian diaspora in life skills development that can be supported by UII. One of the activities carried out is a creative non-fiction writing workshop led by Prof. Dr.rer.soc. Masduki, S.Ag., M.Si.

The event was attended by various communities, such as the Indonesian Student Association in Singapore, the Indonesian Muslim Community in Singapore, the Open University Indonesian Student Association in Singapore, the Indonesian Women’s Empowerment and Equality Commissioner, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Commissioner, and the Indonesian School Association in Singapore.

I Gusti Agung Ketut Satrya Wibawa (Atdikbud KBRI Singapore) expressed appreciation and gratitude to UII for initiating the cooperation program. He hopes that the activities will continue, given the complexity of issues faced by Atdikbud KBRI in fostering various Indonesian diaspora communities in Singapore.

The overall activities received positive responses from the participants and are planned to be followed up with the creation of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for cooperation, the formation of a working group, and writing training in both online and offline media.

The Research Institute of UGJ Conducts a Comparative Study Visit to DPPM UII

To support and enhance the performance of its Research Institute, Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati (UGJ) Cirebon sent a delegation for a goodwill visit and comparative study to the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) at Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The delegation, led by Prof. Dr. Hj. Ida Rosnidah, S.E., M.M., Ak., CA., CRME., CIRR, Head of UGJ Research Institute, was warmly received by the Director of DPPM UII, Ir. Eko Siswoyo, S.T., M.Sc.ES., Ph.D, along with the DPPM UII staff.

During the visit, Eko Siswoyo provided an overview of the community service activities conducted through the KKN (Kuliah Kerja Nyata) scheme as well as the regular scheme.

Additionally, he discussed the research funding schemes through research grants organized by DPPM UII and the journal indexing efforts undertaken by DPPM UII. “For Scopus indexing initially, we needed funds to provide incentives for the writers (especially those from abroad). Once our journal is indexed by Scopus, they will naturally strive to submit their papers to our journal. So, to catch a big fish, we need to use big bait,” he explained.

Regarding SINTA 2 indexing, Eko Siswoyo mentioned that it can be pursued by accepting journal materials in English. Moreover, collaboration in journal management with the spirit of “Progress Together” can also be added. In the end, Eko Siswoyo expressed his hope for future collaboration in research and/or journal management with UGJ.

Before leaving DPPM, the delegation had the opportunity to observe the outputs of UII’s KKN, which they found very interesting.

Widodo

Festivity for the Elderly, Marks the Conclusion of Thematic Community Service Program (KKN) by UII-LLT

The Atmosphere of the Gebyar Lansia Activities Expo in Gedongkiwo Village (left) and the Gebyar Lansia Expo in Purbayan Village (right). (Photo: Widodo)

YOGYAKARTA CITY (UII News). The Gebyar Lansia event marked the culmination of the Thematic Community Service Program (KKN) by the Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) Integrated Elderly Services Program (LLT) in Yogyakarta City, specifically in Purbayan and Gedongkiwo villages. The Gebyar Lansia event in Purbayan Village was held at the Purbayan Sports Hall on 9 Sha’ban 1445 H / February 19, 2024, attended by elderly experts from the Yogyakarta City Bappeda, Kotagede District Chief, Purbayan Village Head, Purbayan Elderly Commission Chairman, the Head of the UII KKN Center, and UII KKN Field Supervising Lecturers in Purbayan.

Rahmanto, S.Fil., M.A., an elderly expert from the Yogyakarta City Bappeda, in his speech, expressed happiness about the KKN students’ concern for the elderly and hoped the program could continue sustainably. Meanwhile, Komaru Ma’arif, the Kotagede District Chief, mentioned other ongoing assistance provided by KKN students from other universities, such as maintaining cultural heritage objects or buildings and assisting with tourism potential in Purbayan. According to him, all of these are part of the Gandeng Gendong Yogyakarta City program, which involves universities as one of its components.

The Gebyar Lansia activities in Purbayan concluded with an expo showcasing KKN outputs, such as modules on Inheritance and Will Law, Pressure Ulcer Prevention, Post Power Syndrome, Effective Communication with the Elderly, Hypertension and Stroke Education, Elderly Medication, Household Chemicals, Elderly Health and Nutrition, Elderly-Friendly Home Analysis, Physical & Social Activities for the Elderly, Purbayan LLT Analysis, Elderly Worship Guidebook, and the development of an Emergency Bracelet for elderly living alone, among various door prize raffles.

Meanwhile, the Gebyar Lansia in Gedongkiwo Village was held on 16 Sha’ban 1445 / February 26, 2024, at Joglo Bale Witana Gedongkiwo, attended by the Gedongkiwo Village Head, Gedongkiwo Elderly Commission Chairman, representatives from UII’s DPPM, and UII KKN Field Supervising Lecturers in Gedongkiwo.

Rina Budi Prastiwi, S.IP., M.Si., the Gedongkiwo Village Head, expressed hope for the program’s sustainability and that the efforts by UII KKN students would serve as a foundation for strengthening the LLT commission, developing LLT programs, and empowering the economy through the LLT scheme. She also requested UII KKN students to further promote the GoLanTang (Go Resilient Elderly) BKKBN application.

Unlike the expo in Purbayan Village, which featured more modules, the expo in Gedongkiwo Village showcased more products, such as peyek (crackers), herbal drinks, snacks, salted eggs, tempeh burgers, eco-enzyme soap, and many more.

Widodo

 

UII KKN Students Create GEULIS V2

Kern Cesarean Ahnaf with His Innovation Module GEULIS V2 (Photo: Widodo)

KOTAGEDE (UII News). A simple innovation to help minimize potential emergencies or send emergency notifications for the elderly (especially those living alone) to their family members (who may live separately or far away) has been successfully created by Kern Cesarean Ahnaf, a student from the Electrical Engineering Department, Faculty of Industrial Technology (FTI), Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII). This was achieved during the UII Thematic KKN program for Integrated Elderly Services (LLT), in collaboration with the Yogyakarta City Government, from 7 Rajab to 9 Sha’ban 1445 H (19 January to 19 February 2024).

Kern Cesarean Ahnaf, commonly known as Kern, was part of unit 1 for the KKN LLT in the Gedongan area, Purbayan Village, Kotagede District. The idea for the IoT (Internet of Things)-based assistive device in the form of a bracelet came from Kern’s observations at the beginning of the KKN LLT program. He noted that out of 177 elderly residents in Gedongan (Purbayan), 12 lived alone without family support.

According to Kern, this situation could potentially lead to serious emergency issues that go unnoticed.

“Starting from this problem, the use of IoT presents a promising solution. Each elderly person will be equipped with an IoT device in the form of a bracelet. When activated (i.e., the button is pressed), it will send an emergency notification via WhatsApp (WA),” he explained.

Besides notifications, Kern mentioned that several features could be added to the GEULIS bracelet, such as location detection, fall detection, a SIM card, a dedicated application, or a specially designed BOT for the GEULIS bracelet.

Although still simple, Kern hopes his innovation can be further refined and mass-produced to help elderly individuals living alone throughout Indonesia.

Widodo

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UII Releases Participants of KKN Period 68

KALIURANG (UII News). “KKN is one of the forefronts of UII’s role in direct community engagement. We will often engage in discussions with the community. We start by trying to listen to what the community has to say. There is a Javanese proverb that says ‘Deso mowo coro,’ which means every village/location has customs and traditions that have been established universally and passed down through generations. Do not violate them. Because violating them may potentially lead to poor communication during KKN. Learn, observe, and respect the culture within the community. Hopefully, this will serve as preparation throughout the KKN period. Be cautious. Take care of yourselves. Take care of your group and also uphold the good name of UII.”

Thus were some of the important messages conveyed by the Vice Rector for Academic Development and Research of Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), Prof. Jaka Nugraha, Dr., S.Si., M.Si., during his address at the Release of UII KKN Students for Period 68 of the Even Semester of the Academic Year 2023/2024 at the Prof. Abdul Kahar Muzakir Auditorium on Thursday, 6 Rajab 1445 H / January 18, 2024.

The Director of the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM) of Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), Eko Siswoyo, ST., M.Sc.ES., Ph.D., in his report, mentioned that for the UII KKN period 68, there were 998 participants spread across 119 units, with 16 units supporting the Integrated Elderly Services Program (LLT) of the Yogyakarta City Government, 5 units assisting in the development and/or internationalization of Kebonagung Tourism Village (Imogiri, Bantul), 7 units assisting in the development of Sendangsari Tourism Village (Kulonprogo), 2 units facilitating participants with special obstacles, and the remaining 89 units spread across various regions such as Bantul Regency, Gunungkidul Regency, Kulonprogo Regency, and Magelang Regency.

The send-off was also marked by the wearing of UII’s academic gown by one male and one female representative of the participants, done by Prof. Jaka Nugraha, Dr., S.Si., M.Si., witnessed by the Director of DPPM UII (Eko Siswoyo, ST., M.Sc.ES., Ph.D.) and the Head of the UII KKN Service Center (dr. Edi Fitriyanto, M.GIZI).

The event concluded with a joint prayer led by Drs. Aden Wijdan SZ., M.Si.

Widodo