Surakarta, September 17, 2025 – Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) continues to strengthen its role as a university that delivers real contributions to society. One of the key agendas during Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta’s (UMS) visit to Wonogiri Government was the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Wonogiri Regency Government. This event also marked the beginning of a strategic collaboration aimed at realizing the “Kampus Berdampak” program, which is aligned with the policy direction of the Directorate General of Higher Education (Ditjen Dikti).
The “Kampus Berdampak” program is built upon the three pillars of Tri Dharma of Higher Education – education, research, and community service – and is designed to address real community challenges while creating sustainable benefits.
During the meeting, Prof. Supriyono, Ph.D., emphasized UMS’s commitment to actively contributing to regional development through various forms of collaboration, including Community Service Programs (KKN).
“In the past, KKN activities often operated independently, without integration with regional government programs, so the impact has not been optimal. We hope to work closely with the Wonogiri Regency Government to ensure that every activity, including KKN, provides tangible benefits for the community. UMS is very open to exploring different forms of collaboration, especially if access and space are facilitated by the relevant government units,” he said.
Wonogiri Regent Setyo Sukarno welcomed the initiative and underlined the importance of engaging academia in empowering local communities, particularly in the tourism and MSME sectors.
“KKN has been running for years, but its impact on the community has not been significant. Our hope is that by collaborating with UMS, we can stimulate new economic opportunities that directly improve community welfare. This collaboration allows the Tri Dharma of higher education to be realized while simultaneously creating tangible benefits for the region,” he stated.
The Regent also highlighted the success of Wonogiri Regency’s scholarship program. This year, 605 scholarships were awarded to students, compared to 818 scholarships in previous years with a budget allocation of IDR 10 billion. Budget efficiency of up to IDR 7.5 billion has created fiscal space for other programs, including collaboration with universities. The Regency Government is also ready to facilitate UMS in connecting with UPTD and other related units to ensure effective program implementation.
Meanwhile, Sidiq Permono Nugroho, M.M., Head of the Subdirectorate for Industrial Partnership Development at DRKUI UMS, added that UMS has 38 research centers with diverse expertise that can be optimized to support Wonogiri’s development agenda.
“We have already collaborated with the Ministry of Social Affairs on poverty mapping, including initiatives in Pucung Ismantoro through the development of herbal agriculture (empon-empon). Opportunities like these can be expanded through collaboration, so that universities not only act as consultants but also deliver real impact for society,” he explained.
As a concrete next step, a formal MoU signing ceremony will be held with the involvement of Pimpinan Daerah Muhammadiyah (PDM). This will formalize the joint work plan and serve as the foundation for future initiatives.
As part of its ongoing commitment, UMS will coordinate across its research and academic centers to maximize the potential of this collaboration. UMS will design an integrated partnership scheme, support applied research, empower students through thematic KKN programs, and provide academic resources to ensure the “Impactful Campus” program delivers meaningful contributions to the people of Wonogiri.
