Community empowerment is a mandatory program for every UGM student because one of the requirements for graduation. This program is very dynamic and gives many new experiences to each participant by living in a society different from the original place. In addition, there are differences of customs, culture, and life values that are very new for the participants. This community empowerment is conducted throughout Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke. This makes the community empowerment program provides an experience that will not get in place of origin. In addition, to better recognize Indonesia’s richness in terms of ethnic, cultural, linguistic, natural, and biodiversity diversity.
This community empowerment program opens opportunities for students from other countries to participate in the program. This provides a new experience for foreign students to experience life in Indonesian society especially in the village. This program is for foreign students to get to know Indonesia deeper because students live in the middle of society in their daily life.
This program is better known as SCS-CEL (Student Community Service – Community Empowerment Learning) as an intra curriculum activity that collaborates on three elements based on the three basic principles of a university (TRI DHARMA). The three elements are, (1) personality empowerment, 2) institutional development and, 3) community empowerment. The program’s activities are carried out systematically and tailored to the priorities of the community and partners who assist in the success of the activities.
In the implementation, SCS-CEL opened wide cooperation space for various parties to be able to succeed this program. Whether it is from the government or private agencies, communities, and other stakeholders. Because with the help of cooperation from various parties such SCS-CEL program can run better because it is done with a lot of help.
Then the goal of this SCS-CEL program for students is to increase students’ awareness of the real issues about the world. In addition, foreign students can share their experiences and knowledge to the community. For example, for villages that have good tourism potential, students can provide foreign language training to be able to prepare the community in developing tourism with existing wealth in the area.