<![CDATA[Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN) is a form of higher education community engagement that strengthens students’ involvement with local communities in identifying, developing, and utilizing local potential. This activity aimed to optimize local potential while strengthening community self-reliance through the Regular KKN program of UIN Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau in Sungai Sembilan District, Dumai City. The program involved 55 students deployed across five villages/urban villages and employed a participatory approach consisting of observation, identification of community potential and needs, program planning, implementation, and joint evaluation. Empowerment activities focused on social, educational, religious, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects according to the characteristics and needs of each locality. The results demonstrated increased community participation in empowerment activities, strengthened utilization of local resources, greater awareness of education and digital literacy, and enhanced collaboration among students, community members, and local governments. The program also produced community empowerment initiatives that can be utilized and continued after the completion of the KKN period. The novelty of this program lies in implementing an integrated empowerment model based on local potential and community needs, connecting multiple development sectors within a single KKN framework rather than focusing on sectoral or ceremonial activities. Program sustainability is supported through strengthened community groups, continued utilization of facilities and media developed during the program, and coordination with village/urban-village governments and community leaders. Thus, the Regular KKN program contributes to strengthening university–community synergy and supporting sustainable local development through participatory, needs-based, and potential-oriented community empowerment.]]>
