Purworejo — Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo (UMPWR) deployed students to 100 villages in Purworejo Regency as part of its 2026 Soft Skills program. This activity was designed as community-based learning to strengthen students' non-academic competencies and character.
A total of 1,963 students were deployed, consisting of 995 third-semester (Level 2) students and 968 fifth-semester (Level 3) students. The students were placed in 288 communities spread across 100 villages in Purworejo Regency, with 144 communities for Level 2 and 144 communities for Level 3.
The deployment was carried out in stages, namely on January 27-28, 2026 for Level 2 students, and January 29-30, 2026 for Level 3 students. During the assignment, students conducted field observations and identified problems faced by village communities, including in the fields of social affairs, education, creative economy, environment, as well as community governance and participation.
Based on the results of these observations, students then formulate alternative solutions that are educational, participatory, and applicable in accordance with the conditions and potential of the village. This process trains students to think critically, communicate effectively with the community, work in teams, and take an active role in problem solving at the community level.
The chair of the UMPWR 2026 Soft Skills committee, Dr. Eko Harianto, M.S.I., said that these soft skills activities serve as a vehicle for shaping students' character. “Students learn directly from the community, understand real issues, and strive to come up with useful solutions. This is important preparation so that UMPWR graduates have social sensitivity and are ready to face future challenges,” he said.
Through this activity, he hopes to achieve sustainable synergy between higher education institutions and rural communities, while strengthening the university's role in producing outstanding, character-driven, and adaptable graduates.
