Published: 21 July 2026 - 07:00 WIB - Views: 0 views
[unsoed.ac.id, Tue, 21/7/26] Amid the rapid pace of globalization, Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed) has once again expanded the scope of its community service to the international level. During the 2026 Community Service Programme (KKN), Unsoed has officially sent 10 selected students from various faculties to participate in the International KKN program in Vietnam for approximately one month.
A delegation from Unsoed departed for Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, July 10, 2026, via Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta. During the program, the students were accompanied by two Field Supervisors (DPL) from the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Unsoed, namely Elpeni Fitrah, Ph.D., and Kholifatus Saadah, M.Hub.Int. After a three-hour flight, the Unsoed delegation arrived in Vietnam and was welcomed by representatives of the partner university, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), Vietnam National University (VNU) – Ho Chi Minh Campus, and joined by a delegation of students from Mataram University (Unram).
Cultural Appreciation and Official Launch of the Green Summer Volunteer Campaign: A series of orientation and official launch events for the Green Summer Volunteer Campaign was held by USSH VNU at the Ho Chi Minh Campus on Sunday, July 12, 2026. During the ceremony, all Community Service Program (KKN) participants and accompanying lecturers received a traditional Vietnamese chequered scarf (khăn rằn).
The presentation of this cloth holds significant historical importance and represents high regard. Traditionally, this checkered cloth was worn by Viet Cong farmers while working in the fields. As such, it symbolizes hard work, simplicity, and a steadfast dedication to serving the community.
“The traditional scarf presented to us is not merely a symbolic accessory but a symbol of simplicity, resilience, and dedication to the people. This serves as a reminder to Unsoed students to integrate with the rural communities where they are carrying out their service,” said Elpeni Fitrah, Ph.D., Supervising Lecturer for Unsoed’s International Community Service Program.
Community Service in Bàu Lâm Village and Contributions to the SDGs On Monday, July 13, 2026, a group of 45 volunteers (students from Unsoed, Unram, and USSH Vietnam) departed by bus for their community service site in Bàu Lâm Village (Bau Lam Commune), about a two-hour ride from the USSH campus. The group was officially received by local government officials at the Bàu Lâm Village Hall before proceeding to the participants’ accommodations.
During their stay at the site until July 27, 2026, the students designed various community service activities that directly support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In relation to Quality Education (SDG 4), the volunteers organized foreign-language teaching programs and educational activities for rural children to expand access to inclusive and equitable non-formal learning during the school holidays.
Furthermore, the creation of educational murals in the village’s public facilities represents a tangible contribution to providing inclusive and child-friendly public spaces, thereby supporting the achievement of Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11). This initiative also aligns with efforts to stimulate local creativity and minimize the information gap, which is in line with the agenda of Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10) between urban and rural areas.
All these social initiatives are framed by the spirit of Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17), with cross-national collaboration among Unsoed, Mataram University, and USSH VNU Vietnam serving as tangible evidence of public diplomacy and academic cooperation in addressing social challenges across the ASEAN region.
Kholifatus Saadah, M.Hub.Int., added that this program provides a concrete platform for students to practice track-two diplomacy while strengthening bonds of friendship between nations. In the spirit of “Unsoed: Always Moving Forward, Never Giving Up,” this 2026 International Community Service Program is expected to produce graduates with a global outlook, a high level of empathy, and a readiness to become agents of social change.
