Geography Department FMIPA UI Implements MBKM Through Field Work Lecture Activities in Garut Regency

In line with the increasing population in an area, land use transformation and increasing number of residential areas are inevitable. This transformation can also affect the increase in surface temperature, the agricultural sector, tourism, disasters and the availability of social and public facilities in the area.

Against the background of these facts, the Department of Geography, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) held the 2nd Field Work Lecture (KKL) for 40 students of the 2020 intake in Garut Regency on May 16-20, 2022, accompanied by 2 Lecturers, Dra. Astrid Damayanti, M.Sc. and Dr. Taqyuddin, M.Hum and 2 Assistant Lecturers, Fajar Dwi Pamungkas, S.Sc. and Kintan Maulidina, S.Sc.

Garut Regency was chosen as the location for the activity because according to the KKL 2 team of the Department of Geography, land and settlement transformation is one of the interesting themes to be discussed in Garut Regency.

The students involved were divided into several groups spread across several sub-districts in Garut Regency, including Tarogong Kidul, Tarogong Kaler, Garut City, Cilawu, Leles, Banyuresmi and Cikajang Districts.

Field Work Lecture (KKL) is one of the compulsory courses for all students of the Geography Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI). KKL is carried out twice by 2nd and 3rd year students during the lecture period.

This course emphasizes student independence in learning, by reading textbooks, journal articles, group discussions, developing research problem ideas, developing data collection methods, and collecting data in the field.

The students involved were divided into several groups spread across several sub-districts in Garut Regency, including Tarogong Kidul, Tarogong Kaler, Garut City, Cilawu, Leles, Banyuresmi and Cikajang Districts. In this activity they also visited the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Garut.

To the FMIPA UI Public Relations Team, the Head of the Geography Department, Dr. Supriatna, M.T. explained that the KKL activities in Garut Regency were one of the implementations of the program. “Independent Learning-Independent Campus” (MBKM) which has been implemented by the Minister of Education and Culture for universities. And in the implementation of KKL activities in Garut Regency, he said, his party collaborated with the Faculty of Agriculture, Garut University. From the UNIGA Faperta itself, 21 students were involved in this activity.

"Cooperation is carried out in the form of transfer knowledge between students through field assistance (surveys) and oral and poster presentations of results," said the Geographic Information Systems Technology expert.

Field assistance was carried out on May 17 and 18, 2022 and the presentation of the results was carried out on May 19, 2022 at the UNIGA Faculty of Agriculture.

The implementation of field work lecture activities is divided into several working groups that are adjusted to each theme chosen by the students, including; discussion of land and settlement transformation, surface temperature phenomena, agriculture, tourism, disasters and development of social/public facilities.

This activity uses secondary data as research data, where the data used comes from government agencies in Garut Regency.

In addition to secondary data, students are also expected to be able to interact directly with the community at the research location, this is intended as an analytical validator of the data collected secondaryly so that it is hoped that it can create benefits for the community.

One of the supervising lecturers, Dra. Astrid Damayanti, M.Si. said output The outcome of this activity program is that students are able to plan and carry out Geography research independently and under guidance, as well as present the results of their research verbally and in writing in the form of publication manuscripts or research reports that are in accordance with the format of the scientific work referred to.

Furthermore, he hopes that this activity can produce appropriate data, and be useful as a database for universities, as well as the government, and the local community to be used in the future to solve problems in the local area.

"The output of this activity from the student competency perspective is to shape the students' ability to plan and carry out Geography research independently, and the results of this research can be useful for the government and local communities as a database to be used in solving problems related to disasters, regional planning or development, and the like," said Drs. Astrid to the FMIPA UI Public Relations team.

News source: https://sci.ui.ac.id/