Journal of Social Responsibility Projects by Higher Education Forum

Peningkatan Kapasitas Petani Cabai melalui Farmers Field School

2026-07-21T00:33:55+07:00

This community service program was conducted in Galudra Village, Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, as part of the Bertani untuk Negeri (Farming for the Nation) Batch 9 Program organized by the Edufarmers International Foundation. The program targeted nine smallholder chili farmers who encountered several cultivation-related challenges, including limited knowledge of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), heavy dependence on synthetic pesticides, minimal utilization of biofertilizers and botanical pesticides, and inadequate technical assistance in farm management. These constraints contributed to suboptimal productivity, increased production costs, and limited adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. This community service initiative aimed to enhance farmers' knowledge and technical capacity in implementing GAP through a participatory Farmers Field School (FFS) approach. The implementation methods consisted of baseline field observations, identification of farmers' needs, regular field monitoring, four FFS sessions, establishment of demonstration and mini-demonstration plots, practical training on the production of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), amino acid liquid organic fertilizer, botanical pesticides, and pesticide wetting agents, followed by continuous mentoring and evaluation. The program contributed by introducing an integrated field-based extension model that combined theoretical learning with hands-on practice, thereby accelerating farmers' adoption of sustainable cultivation technologies. Furthermore, the initiative encouraged the utilization of locally available resources to produce environmentally friendly and cost-effective agricultural inputs. The results demonstrated that farmers improved their understanding and practical skills in applying GAP principles, acquired the ability to independently produce and apply PGPR, liquid organic fertilizer, and botanical pesticides, actively participated in all FFS activities, and gradually adopted more effective, efficient, and sustainable chili cultivation practices. These findings indicate that the participatory FFS model is an effective community empowerment strategy for strengthening farmers' capacities and can be replicated in other horticultural production areas.

Enhancing Digital Marketing Skills and Business Innovation to Increase Competitiveness and Household Income of Home-Based Workers

2026-07-25T17:25:19+07:00

This community service program aimed to enhance digital marketing skills and business innovation among home-based workers in the PPR Seri Sena Community, Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia. The activity was conducted on 13 April 2026 and involved ten participants from the partner community. The program was implemented through a needs assessment, preliminary observation, interviews and discussions with the community, preparation of training materials, an interactive workshop, practical demonstrations, question-and-answer activities, and program evaluation. The training focused on social media utilization, digital marketing, promotional features, digital branding, product differentiation, and business innovation. The evaluation results showed that participants’ understanding of social media utilization for business purposes increased from 44% before the program to 83% after the activity, representing an improvement of 39 percentage points. Understanding of social media promotional features increased from 20% to 75%, representing an improvement of 55 percentage points. These findings demonstrate that participatory and practice-oriented digital marketing training can effectively strengthen the digital competencies of home-based workers and support their readiness to improve business competitiveness. Nevertheless, the program was limited by the small number of participants and the short-term evaluation period, so further mentoring and longitudinal evaluation are recommended to examine its effects on business performance and household income.

Utilization of Hybrid Digital Technologies for Optimizing Waste Bank Management and Elevating Community Literacy

2026-07-26T18:43:37+07:00

Grassroots community waste banks play a pivotal role in urban environmental management; however, they frequently face operational bottlenecks due to reliance on conventional paper-based record-keeping. The community partner faced severe challenges, including administrative processing delays, accounting errors in customer balances, and limited market reach for upcycled products. To address these problems, this community service activity aimed to optimize waste bank administration and elevate digital marketing literacy through an integrated hybrid capacity-building framework. The contribution of this initiative lay in deploying a low-latency hybrid learning setup—combining dual-WAN bonding, multi-camera switching, and cloud-accessible digital ledger tools—to deliver interactive training across physical and synchronous online cohorts (). Methodologically, a mixed-methods approach evaluated participant progress using pre- and post-test diagnostic questionnaires and post-event usability surveys. The results of the community service demonstrated a statistically significant increase in participant digital literacy (), with composite cognitive scores improving from a baseline of to , achieving a high normalized Hake gain (). Field execution successfully digitized operational transaction logs, eliminated calculation discrepancies, and enabled digital cataloging on social media platforms for waste-derived products. Overall participant evaluation indicated outstanding satisfaction (), confirming the practical utility and technical reliability of the hybrid delivery system. This activity successfully transformed the partner's operational workflows from manual ledgers to transparent digital management while offering a scalable model for circular economy empowerment.

Strengthening the Role of Students in Environmental Conservation through Environmental Education and Sustainable Tree-Planting Actions

2026-07-27T14:28:47+07:00

Environmental degradation and the declining quality of urban green spaces require collaborative conservation initiatives involving higher education institutions and university students. This community service program aimed to strengthen the role of students in environmental conservation through environmental education and sustainable tree-planting activities conducted at Medan Urban Forest on 22 June 2026 involving fifteen students from the Management Study Program of Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Manajemen Sukma. The program employed an integrated approach consisting of environmental education, participatory discussions, practical planting of mango (Mangifera indica) and mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) trees, and post-activity evaluation. The results demonstrated significant improvements in participants' environmental competence, with ecosystem knowledge increasing from 41% to 85%, environmental awareness from 65% to 98%, environmental responsibility from 35% to 100%, and environmental empathy from 51% to 78%. Participant satisfaction was also highly positive, with 55% reporting being very satisfied, 34% satisfied, and 11% moderately satisfied with the implementation of the program. These findings indicate that integrating environmental education with experiential conservation activities effectively enhances environmental literacy, strengthens pro-environmental attitudes, and encourages active participation in sustainable environmental stewardship. Therefore, this community service program provides a practical and replicable model for universities seeking to integrate environmental education, student empowerment, and community engagement in support of sustainable urban environmental conservation.

Penguatan Future Soft Skills Siswa SMA Melalui Pelatihan Interaktif Untuk Meningkatkan Kesiapan Studi Lanjut dan Kerja

2026-07-27T14:43:24+07:00

−High school students face serious challenges during their transition to higher education and the workforce due to limited mastery of non-technical skills (soft skills). The partner's condition indicates that the regular school curriculum predominantly focuses on formal academic achievements, leaving students with insufficient structured preparation in 21st-century skills. This community service activity aims to strengthen high school students' future soft skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity, to enhance their readiness for career transitions and further study. The implementation method employed interactive participatory training based on active learning and experiential learning, encompassing interactive lectures, ice-breaking sessions, educational games, group discussions, and case simulations. Program effectiveness was evaluated using Kirkpatrick's Level 1 (Reaction) and Level 2 (Learning) models through satisfaction questionnaires and pre-test/post-test assessments administered to 216 participating students. The results demonstrated an exceptionally high level of participant satisfaction, with an average score of 81.89%. Regarding learning outcomes, significant competency improvements were observed across all soft skill indicators. The highest increase occurred in collaboration skills (26.90%), followed by communication skills (26.68%), critical thinking (24.80%), problem-solving (24.07%), and creativity (21.28%). The novelty of this initiative lies in integrating five future skill domains into a single, compact, and quantitatively measurable interactive training module. The contribution of this activity provides an applicable educational intervention model for schools to design sustainable character development and graduate readiness programs.

Optimalisasi Fasilitas Masjid melalui Corporate Social Responsibility Berbasis Kemitraan Internasional dan Kolaborasi Multipihak

2026-07-29T17:15:11+07:00

−This community service initiative was carried out at the Al-Ikhlas Mosque, IDI Complex, Kwala Bekala Village, Medan Johor Sub-district, Medan City, North Sumatra. The partner organisation faced several challenges, namely the unsuitable condition of the caretaker’s house, the need for landscaping and greening of the mosque’s surroundings, limited social services for the community, and sub-optimal collaboration amongst stakeholders in the development of the mosque’s facilities. This initiative aimed to optimise the mosque’s facilities through the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility based on multi-stakeholder collaboration, whilst simultaneously strengthening the community’s social, environmental and institutional functions. The programme was implemented using a participatory approach through the stages of needs identification, planning, multi-stakeholder coordination, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. The initiative involved around 150 participants, comprising lecturers, students, mosque administrators, healthcare workers and members of the community, and comprised four main interventions: the construction of a caretaker’s house; the landscaping and greening of the mosque grounds; community health check-ups; and the strengthening of partnerships between national and international universities and the community. The results of the community service programme indicate that the entire series of activities was carried out as planned. The programme has resulted in the construction of caretaker’s houses, which is now in the implementation phase; the organisation of greening initiatives and the landscaping of mosque surroundings; the provision of healthcare services to the community; and increased community involvement in community work and the maintenance of facilities, as evidenced by observations, interviews and participatory evaluations. In addition to improving physical facilities, these activities have strengthened collaborative networks among stakeholders, laying the foundation for the programme’s sustainability. The successful implementation of this model remains dependent on the readiness of human resources, financial support and institutional commitment; consequently, its application in other locations requires adaptation to the characteristics and capacities of each partner.

Peningkatan Kompetensi Guru dalam Pengembangan Bahan Ajar Digital melalui Pelatihan Pemanfaatan Artificial Intelligence

2026-07-29T17:37:27+07:00

This community service activity was carried out at SMA Negeri 1 Percut Sei Tuan, Kab. Deli Serdang, North Sumatera Province. Based on preliminary observations and interviews, the partner faced the problem of teachers’ low competence in developing digital teaching materials; most teachers still relied on printed textbooks and simple presentation slides, while artificial intelligence (AI) technology had never been utilized to support the preparation of teaching materials. This condition made the learning process less varied and not fully aligned with the characteristics of students as digital natives. This activity aimed to improve teachers’ competence in developing digital teaching materials through training on the use of AI-based applications, including ChatGPT and Gemini for preparing learning materials and assessment instruments, Canva Magic Studio and Gamma for creating interactive slides and digital modules, and Quizizz AI for developing evaluation quizzes. The implementation method consisted of four stages: needs analysis, preparation, training implementation using interactive lectures, demonstrations, and guided practice, and evaluation using pre-test, post-test, product assessment rubrics, and participant response questionnaires. The activity was attended by 25 teachers from various subjects. The results showed an increase in participants’ average comprehension score from 52.4 in the pre-test to 84.8 in the post-test, an increase of 61.8%. All participants (100%) succeeded in producing at least one AI-assisted digital teaching material ready for classroom use, and 92% of participants stated that the activity was very useful and relevant to their professional needs. Thus, the AI utilization training proved effective in improving teachers’ competence in developing digital teaching materials, and its continuation is recommended through periodic mentoring programs so that AI utilization can be integrated sustainably and ethically into learning practices at the partner school.

Peningkatan Kompetensi Guru Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan Melalui Implementasi Teknologi Pembelajaran 4.0 Berbasis LMS, Quizizz dan Google Classroom

2026-07-30T01:15:29+07:00

The digital era demands that the education sector be able to adapt to the development of information technology, especially in the implementation of digital-based learning. However, the problem at SMK Negeri 1 Tambusai Utara is the still low understanding and application of 4.0 technology by teachers in the learning process, even tho supporting facilities such as the internet are well available. Therefore, a workshop on the implementation of 4.0 technology thru Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Quizizz, Kahoot, and Google Classroom was conducted with the aim of enhancing teachers' competence in utilizing learning technology. The implementation method was carried out in two stages, namely the delivery of theoretical material and direct practice. The results of the activity show that all participants were able to understand and implement the LMS with a high level of success. Additionally, there was a shift in the learning pattern to become more interactive and student-centered, with an activity proportion of 70% students and 30% teachers. Thus, this workshop is effective in enhancing teachers' technological competencies and encouraging more engaging, effective, and efficient learning innovations.

Pemanfaatan Nilai Tambah Komoditi Pepaya (Carica papaya L.) Pada Kelompok Pkk Sebagai Inisiasi Pembentukan Home Industry

2026-07-30T16:06:18+07:00

Melapi Village in South Putussibau District, Kapuas Hulu Regency, possesses abundant papaya (Carica papaya L.) resources; however, utilization remains largely limited to fresh consumption and use as a vegetable, failing to generate optimal economic value for the community. This community service program aims to enhance the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and interest of Melapi Village PKK (Family Welfare Empowerment) members regarding the processing of papaya into economically valuable products. The program's novelty lies in its application of an integrated mentoring model—combining extension services, demonstrations, hands-on practice, and continuous guidance—to strengthen community capacity in developing processed products based on local resources. The initiative involved 20 PKK members and proceeded through stages including needs assessment, extension sessions, demonstrations on making papaya jam and candied papaya, practical sessions, mentoring, and evaluation using pre-test and post-test instruments. Program effectiveness was analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. Results indicate a significant improvement in participants' knowledge, processing skills, attitudes, and interest following the mentoring (p<0.05). These findings demonstrate that the mentoring model effectively enhances community capacity to process papaya into value-added products, thereby opening opportunities for household business development, local product diversification, increased family income, and the sustainable economic strengthening of the PKK group.

Pelatihan Microsoft Excel Dasar untuk Meningkatkan Keterampilan Administrasi Guru dan Wali Santri

2026-08-03T13:55:07+07:00

Administrative management and financial record-keeping in non-formal educational institutions such as Taman Pendidikan Al-Qur'an (TPQ) are still predominantly performed manually, resulting in various challenges, including difficulties in data retrieval, a high risk of data loss, low accuracy, and inefficient workflows. Similar issues were identified at TPQ Bina Ummah, where teachers and administrative staff had limited proficiency in using Microsoft Excel for administrative management and recording cash inflows and outflows. Consequently, data recapitulation was time-consuming and prone to calculation errors. This community service program aimed to improve the participants' competency in using Microsoft Excel to support more effective and accurate administrative management. The implementation method consisted of needs assessment, development of training modules, hands-on workshops, practical mentoring, and evaluation through pre-test and post-test assessments. The training focused on four core competencies: creating tables, using the SUM and AVERAGE functions, applying the Sort and Filter features, and configuring document print settings. The activity was conducted offline on May 9, 2026, and attended by 20 participants, consisting of teachers and administrative staff of TPQ Bina Ummah. The evaluation results showed that the average pre-test score increased from 45.5 to 82.0 in the post-test, representing an improvement of 36.5 points (approximately 80.2% compared with the initial score). Furthermore, 90% of the participants were able to independently prepare cash receipt and cash disbursement reports using Microsoft Excel based on the case studies provided. These findings indicate that the training successfully enhanced participants' competencies in administrative management while strengthening their digital literacy to support more professional, effective, and accountable administrative governance within the TPQ.

Sosialisasi Penggunaan Masker Respirator 6200 Kepada Petani Kratom Untuk Pengolahan Remahan

2026-08-03T14:13:33+07:00

The priority issue is the production of kratom leaves particularly the milling and packaging processes, on the health of the farmers. The process of grinding dried kratom leaves produces crumbles and fine dust. The fine dust produced can cause shortness of breath and red eyes. Efforts to minimize the impact of exposure to kratom dust during the grinding process and support for farmers, namely raising awareness about the use of KN95 particulate respirator masks. Providing adequate insight into kratom leaf production, focus on health forms the basis of the activities, enabling farmers to innovate in the milling and packing processes. The objective of the activity is to provide adequate insight into the safe use of masks, tested on kratom farmers, particularly during the grinding process and packing and how to use them. The activity methods consisted of surveys, field coordination, mask-wearing training, pre-test and post-test evaluations, and supervision. The results of the activity show that, based on the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, the average knowledge and attitude scores increased significantly, namely knowledge from 2.92 in the pre-test to 4.20 in the post-test with p value = 0.000013 (p < 0.05) and attitude values also increased significantly with an average attitude score from 13.56 to 18.64 so that p value = 0.000011 (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the education provided was effective in increasing knowledge and shape a positive attitude among kratom farmers toward the use of KN95 particulate respirator masks as an effort to protect occupational health.The evaluation indicates the level of comfort in wearing a mask during the grinding process and packing did not cause shortness of breath. It does not sting the eyes and allows for longer work sessions, particularly when grinding kratom leaf fragments so that production can increase further.

Peningkatan Kemampuan Pengelolaan Usaha UMKM Melalui Pelatihan Manajemen, Keuangan dan Digital

2026-08-12T23:12:22+07:00

−This community service program was conducted for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Sei Silau Timur Village, primarily engaged in home-based culinary businesses and small-scale trading. Based on the preliminary assessment, the main challenges faced by the participants included limited business management skills, the absence of systematic financial record-keeping, and inadequate utilization of digital technology for product marketing, which hindered business growth and competitiveness. To address these issues, the program provided training on business management, basic financial record-keeping, and social media-based digital marketing. The activities were implemented through socialization sessions, hands-on practice, and interactive discussions tailored to the participants' needs. The program involved 50 MSME participants. The evaluation results indicated that participants' level of understanding reached 85% in business management, 80% in basic financial management, and 78% in digital marketing after completing the training. Furthermore, participants demonstrated the ability to prepare simple financial records and gained a better understanding of utilizing social media as a marketing tool. These findings indicate that the community service program effectively enhanced the participants' competencies in managing their businesses, thereby contributing to improved business competitiveness and supporting the sustainable economic empowerment of the local community.

Optimalisasi Pemanfaatan Limbah Organik Melalui Pelatihan Pembuatan Media Tanam Berbahan Kompos Sapi dan Sekam Bakar

2026-08-21T00:26:12+07:00

This community service activity was conducted at SDN 121 Inpres Kalabbirang, Kalabbirang Village, Bantimurung District, Maros Regency, South Sulawesi. The problems identified among the partners were the suboptimal utilization of organic waste in the form of cow manure and rice husks available in the surrounding environment as planting media materials, as well as the participants’ limited knowledge regarding the functions and techniques for utilizing these organic materials in crop cultivation. This condition resulted in the available local resource potential not being optimally utilized to support simple agricultural activities and environmental learning. This community service activity aimed to optimize the utilization of organic waste through training in the preparation of planting media made from cow manure compost and burned rice husks, as well as to improve participants’ knowledge and skills in preparing organic planting media. The activity was implemented using a participatory approach through the stages of observation and needs analysis, preparation, counseling, demonstration, planting media preparation practice, water spinach planting, and evaluation. The activity involved 72 participants consisting of 52 students, 15 parents and community members, and 5 representatives of the Office of Religious Affairs of Bantimurung District. The contribution of this activity was the provision of knowledge and practical experience to participants in processing organic materials available in the environment into planting media that can be applied at school and household scales, while encouraging awareness of the utilization of local resources and strengthening collaboration among schools, communities, students participating in the National Community Service Program, and government institutions. The results showed that participants were able to recognize the functions of planting media components, mix soil, manure, and burned rice husks, fill polybags with the planting media, and plant water spinach according to the stages provided.