Universitas Terbuka (UT) officially designated Juruan Daya Village, Batuputih District, Sumenep Regency, as a National Community Service (PkM) Assisted Village on Wednesday (9/17/2025). The inauguration was held at the Galung Beach tourist area, marking the culmination of a long journey of community empowerment programs initiated by UT since 2021.
The event was attended by regional officials, Forkopimda (Regional Leadership Coordination Forum), academics, and village leaders. Among those present were Sumenep Regent Achmad Fauzi Wongsojudo, Head of the Sumenep Regency Tourism Office H. Mohamad Iksan, S.Pd., M.T., Sumenep Police Chief, Sumenep Military District Commander, and Juruan Daya Village Head Zumiasih, S.Pd. From Universitas Terbuka, the Director of UT Surabaya, Dr. Suparti, M.Pd., and representatives from the UT LPPM (Institute for Research and Community Service) were in attendance. This cross-sectoral presence demonstrated a real synergy in supporting Juruan Daya Village’s growth into an independent tourist village. The material was delivered by the Acting Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Business of UT, Prof. Rahmat Budiman, M.Hum., Ph.D., and the CEO of PLLLLus from the Netherlands, Erno de Korte, as a speaker for the international community service program (PkM).
The Director of UT Surabaya, Dr. Suparti, M.Pd., affirmed that Universitas Terbuka is not just here to build infrastructure, but also to foster community self-sufficiency. “Since 2021, we have been present to mentor the community so they can see the great potential of Galung Beach and turn it into a leading tourist destination. All of these achievements are the result of collaborative work between academics, the government, and the community,” she said.
Sumenep Regent, Achmad Fauzi Wongsojudo, welcomed the inauguration. According to him, the success of Juruan Daya in becoming an assisted village by UT proves that consistent collaboration can yield results with a direct impact on the community. “We highly support Universitas Terbuka’s initiative. This village can now serve as an example of how collaboration can create an independent tourist village that provides a real impact on the local economy,” he said.
The Coordinator of the UT Surabaya PkM Team, Sucipto, explained that this inauguration is proof of UT’s consistency in building a tourist village based on local potential. “UT wants Juruan Daya Village to be a model for a sustainable, community-based tourist village. Through this program, the community is not just an object, but the main subject who is empowered, capable of managing, and also directly receiving economic benefits,” he emphasized.
Since the program’s inception, various achievements have been reached. In 2023, UT developed a site plan for the development of Galung Beach as a strategic guide for spatial planning and accessibility. In 2024, UT, together with the community, built five iconic gazebos, held digital marketing training, and encouraged the modern packaging of local products like banana chips and shrimp paste. Tourism guiding training was also prepared so that village youth would be ready to become professional tour guides.
The year 2025 marks a crucial phase with the major theme “Towards Financial Independence.” The focus is on tourism innovation and strengthening the financial literacy of the residents. Children’s play areas on the beach are now available to attract family tourists, while the community receives financial literacy training. The “Educational Trail” program turns Galung Beach into an open learning space for school children, while the “English Bridge” trains the younger generation to be confident in interacting with foreign tourists. In addition, environmentally friendly breakthroughs have also been implemented with the installation of solar cells as a source of renewable energy in the tourist area.
The Head of Juruan Daya Village, Zumiasih, S.Pd., expressed her pride in this achievement. “The community is now more confident, empowered, and capable of managing the existing potential. All of this is thanks to the consistent mentorship from Universitas Terbuka,” she said.
The Juruan Daya Assisted Village program is one of the ways Universitas Terbuka supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UT’s presence supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) through financial literacy and “English Bridge” programs, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through the development of local products and tourism business opportunities, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) with the development of a tourist village based on local potential, and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) through the use of solar cells as a renewable energy source. This synergy shows UT’s commitment to not only educating the nation but also bringing sustainability and a real impact to village communities.
The inauguration of Juruan Daya Village as a National Assisted Village of Universitas Terbuka marks the beginning of a new chapter, not the end of the journey. The village is expected to become an inspirational model for other villages in Sumenep Regency, especially in managing community-based tourism potential. Through this program, Universitas Terbuka once again affirms its commitment as an impactful university that brings knowledge, innovation, and usefulness to all levels of society.
