<![CDATA[The Kampus Merdeka initiative, launched by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, provides university students with opportunities to gain off-campus learning experiences and contribute to improving educational quality, particularly in enhancing literacy and numeracy. This study examines the implementation of the Kampus Mengajar program at SMP Negeri 3 Watampone, Bone Regency, using a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation involving school principals, teachers, and participating students. The data analysis process involved data condensation, presentation, and conclusion drawing, with a focus on data validity. The implementation process was divided into three stages: pre-assignment, assignment and reporting, and post-assignment. While the program largely follows national guidelines and shows positive contributions to school activities, several major challenges were identified. These include disparities in the perception and policy regarding semester credit recognition between universities and the Ministry of Education, limited benchmarks to measure program effectiveness, varying capacities of student participants, and a lack of structured mechanisms to sustain the program's outcomes. To address these issues, the study recommends the standardization of academic credit conversion policies, improved preparatory training to strengthen student competencies, the development of clear evaluation metrics for effectiveness, and the integration of program sustainability plans into future cycles of Kampus Mengajar. These recommendations are critical to ensuring the long-term success and consistency of this national education initiative.]]>
