Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) – The 2026 Thematic Community Service Program (KKN Tematik) at Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) did not end with students’ activities in the community. The experiences and outcomes of the program were brought into an academic forum through SUBADRANA (Symposium on Community and Community Empowerment), organized by UMPWR through its Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) on Thursday (September 17, 2026).
Held at the Seminar Room of the East Campus, UMPWR Rectorate Building, the event served as a follow-up and reflection forum on the implementation of the Thematic KKN. In addition to discussing experiences in community empowerment, SUBADRANA provided a space to connect academic ideas with the development needs of the region.
The 2026 UMPWR Thematic KKN involved 327 students, focusing on Uninhabitable Houses (Rumah Tidak Layak Huni/RTLH) and community empowerment. Through the program, students were not only encouraged to understand issues faced by local communities but also took part in data collection and mapping community conditions in the target areas.
More broadly, SUBADRANA was designed to strengthen cooperation between the university and the Purworejo Regional Government, particularly by aligning the university’s research agenda with regional development needs. The forum also provided a space for researchers, academics, and regional stakeholders to explore the potential for applied research that responds to the issues and local potential of Purworejo.
Head of the Research and Regional Innovation Division of Purworejo, Sri Palupi, S.E., M.Si., was one of the speakers, delivering a presentation entitled “Strengthening Synergy in Research, Innovation, and Community Empowerment for Sustainable Regional Development.”
In her presentation, Sri Palupi discussed the policies and direction of research and innovation development in Purworejo Regency. She also outlined a number of strategic regional issues that require support through research and innovation, including priority problems that call for contributions from universities, researchers, students, communities, and the wider public.
She emphasized that collaboration among various stakeholders is essential to ensure that community empowerment programs genuinely respond to local needs. Therefore, a multi-stakeholder collaboration model needs to be developed throughout the planning, implementation, evaluation, and further development of empowerment programs.
The second speaker, Dr. Arif Susanto, M.Pd., a UMPWR lecturer and a recipient of DPPM grants for two consecutive years, delivered a presentation entitled “Community-Based Community Empowerment.”
Dr. Arif encouraged participants to view community empowerment as more than simply implementing a program. It begins with the ability to understand the issues faced by the community. His presentation covered the essence of community empowerment, understanding the problems faced by the people of Purworejo, identifying root causes and needs, as well as exploring local potential and assets that can be developed.
He also discussed the role of academics in Purworejo, designing community empowerment programs, measuring impact and sustainability, as well as reflecting on good practices that can serve as lessons for future activities.
The SUBADRANA program was divided into two sessions. The first session was held offline at the Seminar Room of the East Campus, UMPWR Rectorate Building, featuring the symposium and presentations by the speakers. Meanwhile, the second session was held online via Zoom Meeting, featuring presentations of articles prepared by students as reports on their Thematic KKN activities.
In his remarks, Head of LPPM UMPWR Dr. Heru Kurniawan, M.Pd., expressed his gratitude that SUBADRANA could serve as the closing event of this year’s Thematic KKN series.
“Alhamdulillah, we are able to hold this symposium on community and community empowerment as the closing event of the KKN series. This year’s Thematic KKN involved all KIP students,” he said.
He explained that one of the main focuses of this year’s Thematic KKN was surveying Uninhabitable Houses. Of the approximately 4,500 houses targeted, UMPWR students successfully surveyed around 4,300 houses.
“Approximately 85 percent of UMPWR students were able to carry out this activity well. UMPWR conducted the highest number of surveys. Alhamdulillah, this year’s survey target was achieved as planned,” he added.
Dr. Heru also explained that each student group was required to prepare two articles as part of the outputs of the Thematic KKN. The articles were then presented and became part of the SUBADRANA agenda.
Meanwhile, UMPWR Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teguh Wibowo, M.Pd., expressed his appreciation to LPPM for organizing the event. He hoped that KIP students would take part in and carry out community empowerment activities seriously so that their work could provide meaningful benefits to the community.
“We hope that the KIP students will carry out this activity seriously. We also appreciate LPPM for organizing this activity well. We hope that this activity will be beneficial and empowering for the community,” he said.
SUBADRANA provided a space to bring together students’ field experiences, academic perspectives, and regional development needs. Through this forum, the outcomes of the Thematic KKN are expected to go beyond field activities and develop into knowledge, ideas, and applied research opportunities that can continue to benefit the people of Purworejo.
