Journal of Community Development
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): August

Optimizing Local Potential Through Community Empowerment in the KKN Program of UIN Suska Riau in Sungai Sembilan, Dumai

Dika Ardian (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)
Royhan Daniel (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)
M. Nasih Mu’awan (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)
Roy Candra (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)
Sheva Sheva (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)
Yoga Tama (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)
Rahman Rahman (Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Oct 2025

Abstract

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.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

comdev

Publisher

Subject

Computer Science & IT Nursing Public Health Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Community Development is officially registered in the Centre for Data and Scientific Documentation (PDDI), Indonesia Institute of Science with ISSN Number 2747-2760 (online). Journal of Community Development is published biannually (October and April) by Indonesian Journal Publisher. ...