UNAIR NEWS – The Department of Chemistry of UNAIR’s Faculty of Science and Technology, in collaboration with several partner universities both domestically and internationally, organized the International Community Services (ICS-2024) event in Senden Village, Kampak Sub-district, Trenggalek Regency. Over four days, the program featured three main activities: product packaging training for micro-enterprises in Senden Village, online marketing training, identification of medicinal plants in the area, and promoting Goa Ngerit (Ngerit Stone Park) to the world.
The ICS-2024 event, facilitated by UNAIR’s Research and Community Service Institute, the Department of Chemistry, and the Faculty of Science and Technology, aims to develop eco-green tourism. This approach emphasizes the sustainable and responsible use of natural resources, aligning with UNAIR’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation.
The event was inaugurated by UNAIR’s Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development, Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih, on July 8, 2024, at the FST-UNAIR conference room. The opening ceremony featured guest lectures by three professors from partner universities: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yoshiaki Takaya, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Nor Atika Baharin, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mir Hassan Khoso. On July 9, 2024, a welcome ceremony was held in Senden Village, attended by the district head, village head, village officials, members of the Senden women’s association, and the head of the local Bhayangkari branch.
The ICS team comprised lecturers and students from UNAIR’s Departments of Chemistry, Information Systems, and Economics. The team included UNAIR students from Indonesia, as well as international students from Myanmar, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Lecturers and students from partner universities included Universitas Mayjen Sungkono (UNIMAS) in Mojokerto, Meijo University in Nagoya, Japan, UiTM Negeri Sembilan and University of Malaya in Malaysia, and SMBBMU in Larkana, Pakistan. The 44-member team was divided into three activity groups.
The training sessions were conducted in collaboration with Bhayangkari Ranting Kampak and the Senden Village women’s association. Thirty micro-entrepreneurs from Senden Village each brought one product to be improved for better packaging and online marketing. The micro-entrepreneurs were enthusiastic about the two-day training, hoping it would enable them to market their products year-round instead of only during festive seasons.
During the four-day stay in Senden Village, the 44-member team was accommodated in 22 local homes, with one foreign student paired with one local student per house. Both lecturers and international students were impressed by the villagers’ hospitality. The villagers were equally delighted and proud to host guests from the city and abroad. Sumarji, the village head, and Dra. Hasnawati, the sub-district head, hope that this initiative would lead to the establishment of new homestays in Senden Village. They envisioned that the presence of Goa Ngerit and the village’s scenic mountains would attract many tourists in the future.
The medicinal plant identification team successfully collected 100 medicinal plant specimens from the Senden Village area. These specimens will be preserved and added to the collection of Universitas Airlangga, alongside specimens from other locations, to be displayed in the LIHTR Building exhibit hall. These specimens will also serve as references for future medicinal plant identification.
Sumarji, the village head, expressed his gratitude on behalf of the village administration. He noted that it was an honor for Senden Village to collaborate with a prestigious Indonesian university. “This collaboration will positively impact various sectors, especially in promoting and researching the village’s tourism potential, including the highly beneficial UMKM training for our community,” said Sumarji.
He also hopes that the ICS-2024 program will become a model for effective and sustainable village development, combining the village’s potential with community participation. “This initiative will help Senden Village become an attractive and popular tourist destination,” concluded Sumarji.
Author: FST UNAIR
