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Economic empowerment of rural communities through the strengthening of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is a crucial pillar in achieving national economic independence. One of the fundamental obstacles faced by MSMEs in rural areas is financial exclusion due to low digital literacy and dependence on conventional cash transaction systems. The Community Service Program (KKN) of students from the State Islamic University of North Sumatra (UIN SU) in Pematang Tengah Village was designed to bridge this gap by optimizing the Indonesian Standard Quick Response Code (QRIS). Through an intensive participatory mentoring approach, students acted as agents of digital transformation who educated, trained, and facilitated 10 local MSME actors in adopting non-cash payment technology. The results of the program show a significant shift from digital skepticism to digital trust. The implementation of QRIS has been proven to increase operational efficiency, financial management accuracy, and strengthen the image of business modernity in the eyes of consumers. This article emphasizes that the role of students is not merely as information deliverers, but as catalysts of social capital that is crucial for the sustainability of digitalization at the village level.

Traditional snack micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia face increasing market competition and rapidly changing consumer preferences, particularly among younger consumers seeking innovative and symbolic food experiences. This community engagement study aims to strengthen the profitability and sustainability of traditional snack MSMEs by integrating local flavor innovation with simple business governance practices. Using a participatory action research approach under the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program in Palangka Raya, this study involved co-creation between students and local entrepreneurs in product development, production standardization, and basic financial management. Qualitative data were collected through participatory observation and stakeholder discussions, while quantitative data were obtained from sales records and simple financial reports. The results demonstrate that local flavor-based innovation, combined with standardized operating procedures and cost control mechanisms, improved product differentiation, operational efficiency, and financial performance. The intervention generated a positive net profit and strengthened the partner’s capacity for independent business management. This study contributes to the literature by positioning traditional food MSMEs as sites of cultural innovation and micro-governance, while supporting Sustainable Development Goals related to inclusive economic growth, cultural preservation, and responsible production.

The Community Service Program (KKN) in Sidomukti Baru Village aims to enhance the community’s productive skills and financial awareness through training on dishwashing soap innovation and saving education. The main problems faced by the local community are the lack of skills in creating economically valuable products and low awareness of household financial management. This activity employed a descriptive qualitative method with a participatory approach, where the community was actively involved in all stages of implementation, from planning and execution to evaluation. The results show that the dishwashing soap training effectively improved participants’ skills and creativity in processing simple materials into marketable products with local economic potential. Meanwhile, the saving education activities successfully increased financial literacy and encouraged wise financial behavior within families. Through active community participation, this program not only provided new skills but also fostered economic independence and strengthened the spirit of cooperation as a foundation for sustainable empowerment at the village level.

This study aims to analyze the role of UINSU’s Community Service Program (KKN) students in enhancing Islamic entrepreneurial awareness among the residents of Pahang Village, Talawi District, Batu Bara Regency. The KKN program serves as a platform for applying academic knowledge while empowering communities through educational, persuasive, and participatory approaches. The students introduced fundamental concepts of Islamic entrepreneurship, including principles of justice, honesty, sustainability, and the avoidance of riba, gharar, and maisir. Through a series of activities such as seminars, micro-business training sessions, financial management mentoring based on sharia principles, and simple business model simulations, the villagers began to show improved understanding of Islamic economic values. Moreover, the active involvement of students created an inclusive learning environment that was accessible to various community groups. The findings indicate that the presence of KKN students contributed positively to cultivating entrepreneurial motivation, particularly among youth and micro-business actors. This improvement was reflected in changes in mindset, interest in initiating halal businesses, and increased awareness of applying sharia principles in daily economic activities. Thus, the KKN program not only provides practical experience for students but also offers a tangible contribution to strengthening sharia-based economic empowerment at the village level.

Cahaya Amal Soleh Foundation is a social institution that focuses on community service through various institutional programs engaged in social, education, and community empowerment. However, a number of operational staff who do not have a financial background have difficulty in understanding and managing financial reports effectively. This study aims to assist staff through the On-the-Job Learning and Development Program (OLDP) themed Finance for Non-Finance with the SIAPIK (Islamic Boarding School and Social Charity Accounting Information System) application approach. The method used is a qualitative approach with a participatory model, involving direct training, transaction recording simulations, and evaluation of participant understanding. The results of the assistance showed a significant increase in staff understanding of basic accounting principles, transaction recording, and SIAPIK-based financial reporting. These findings indicate that a practical approach through an application based on the foundation's needs can improve the financial capacity of non-accounting staff. The implications of this activity reinforce the importance of digitizing the financial system of social organizations and the need for ongoing training for human resources so that accountable and transparent financial governance can be realized sustainably. In addition, the results of this program highlight that the integration of technology and participatory training can overcome barriers in financial literacy among non-finance staff. The SIAPIK application provides an accessible interface and structured modules that are easy to understand, thereby reducing the complexity usually associated with financial management. Staff who previously felt unconfident in processing financial transactions gradually gained competence and independence in applying accounting procedures. The training also fostered collaborative learning, where participants supported each other in solving case simulations, enhancing not only technical knowledge but also teamwork and problem-solving skills. Furthermore, the foundation’s management expressed that the program positively contributed to institutional performance by ensuring more reliable and transparent financial reporting.

The community service activity carried out with farmer groups in Kelungkung Village, Sumbawa Regency, aims to enhance farmers’ capacity and independence through an innovation-based business approach. The specific objectives of this activity include: (a) developing an innovation-oriented business model to support agricultural product enterprises, (b) strengthening marketing management for competitiveness, (c) improving skills in simple financial management analysis, and (d) providing an understanding of creative thinking methods capable of generating innovations by integrating community needs, technological potential, and business success factors. The methods applied involved training sessions, mentoring, and interactive discussions focusing on business model design, digital financial management practices, and modern marketing strategies. The results of the activity indicate that: (1) partners are able to understand and elaborate on key business components such as customer segments, value propositions, distribution channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partners, and cost structures; (2) partners can evaluate their businesses, identify opportunities, and formulate solutions to existing challenges; (3) partners have acquired basic knowledge of digital-based financial management analysis that is simple yet applicable; and (4) partners have developed the capacity to expand their farming enterprises, particularly in the field of digital marketing. Overall, this program has successfully encouraged farmer groups to be more adaptive to technological developments and modern market demands.

The objective of this mentoring activity is to increase the capacity of swimming pool managers, particularly in strengthening management and sustainable management strategies. With this increased capacity, it is hoped that Tirta Arum Swimming Pool can develop into a valuable village asset, both economically and socially. The swimming pool will not only provide a source of income for the village but also serve as a means of recreation, education, and social interaction for the surrounding community. The method used in this mentoring activity is Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), an approach that emphasizes active community participation in every stage of the planning process, decision-making, and program implementation. PRA enables village communities, including Tirta Arum Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes) managers, to analyze their environmental conditions, identify problems, and design contextual and sustainable solutions. This approach is implemented through structured mentoring, education, and training activities. Direct community involvement aims to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for swimming pool management. In addition, with training tailored to local needs, managers are expected to be able to apply effective management principles, from planning and financial management to customer service and promotional strategies. Thus, the results of this activity are not only temporary improvements, but also long-term empowerment that contributes to the independence and business aspirations of the Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes). Through the PRA method, this activity not only provides an immediate solution to swimming pool management problems but also increases the independence of the community and managers in developing and operating the business sustainably. This increased community participation is expected to foster a sense of ownership (a sense of belonging) towards the swimming pool as a shared property.

Effective household financial management is a crucial pillar for the economic well-being of every family, particularly in the face of an uncertain economy and the challenges of modern life. Women hold a strategic position in improving household management because they have a greater ability to carry out household activities compared to men. The purpose of this activity is to highlight the role of women in enhancing household financial management, thereby supporting the sustainability of their families. This community service method employs a qualitative descriptive approach, utilizing data collection techniques that include initial surveys or observations, questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and documentation in the form of photos, videos, and notes taken during the activity. The findings of this community service indicate that two activities are carried out: interactive lectures on family financial management and training on managing family finances. The results showed that 11 out of 13 participants had an understanding of family financial management education for Kuta village residents. In contrast, two people did not have a clear understanding of the training and lectures provided. These results indicate that not all RT mothers in Kuta village have the same sense of family financial management. Therefore, in the future, socialization and training in family finances are needed, involving more RT mothers in Desa Kuta.

According to data from the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs in 2024, Indonesia has more than 60 million SMEs, which are very important to its economy, contributing 60% to the national GDP. However, around 77.5% of SMEs do not keep financial records, while 22.5% have some form of financial reporting that is often inconsistent and poorly documented. Many entrepreneurs do not realize the importance of financial reports, instead focusing on business growth and sales. Lack of financial literacy leads to poor decision-making and operational transparency. Quality financial reports can facilitate access to capital and serve as an indicator of business success. Programs aimed at improving financial literacy and the importance of financial reporting have shown a positive impact on SME performance. The training program for Dapur Umi Ila SMEs in Bojongkerta aims to empower participants through education on financial management, emphasizing the importance of maintaining accurate financial records for proper decision-making and sustainable business growth. By creating financial reports, Dapur Umi Ila SMEs are expected to be more concerned about operational finances so that they can learn to make decisions based on relevant and reliable financial reports..

The community service program (PKM) carried out for women entrepreneurs in Klinting Village, Somagede District, Banyumas Regency. The program mainly aims to improve community understanding of business financial management and increase access to capital in formal financial institutions. The objectives of the PKM are achieved through socialization on business financial management and strategies for obtaining efficient capital in formal financial institutions as well as simple bookkeeping training. Through these PKM activities, the awareness of women entrepreneurs in Klinting Village about the importance of effective business financial management and financial records is expectedly increased. Women entrepreneurs were given insight into external capital sources from formal institutions, namely banks, and were introduced to effective strategies for obtaining capital from banks. In addition, entrepreneurs in Klinting Village also gain insight into the risks of informal and illegal loans, as well as how to utilize financial technology, such as digital wallets, to support their business operations. This program is expected to be able to reduce the dependence of women entrepreneurs on informal loans, encourage business sustainability, and build economic independence for the Klinting Village community. In the long term, this program has the potential to strengthen family economic stability while creating inclusive and sustainable business growth

The Community Service activities that have been carried out aim to improve the welfare of the people of Doplang Village by optimizing all potential, both natural resources and human resources, to be integrated into the Edupark Agricultural Plantation Tourism Object. This term was chosen because the tourist village that will be created will not only rely on natural potential but also has educational value for tourists who visit this tourist village. There are 3 solutions offered by PGRI University Semarang in the framework of overcoming the problems faced by the Doplang village community, including training in making processed tuberose flowers into healthy preservative-free food, training in MSME financial management and training in Organizational Management, Tourism Management, Tourism Management SOPs , Layout (Master Plan) of Tourist Villages. The results of this program are providing theoretical provisions related to the cultivation of tuberose plants, providing theoretical and practical provisions related to food processing from tuberose plants, providing materials and workshops related to strategies for making tourism products along with tips for their development, and providing theoretical provisions related to Tourism Law.

In the current digital era, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) need digital tools to facilitate their business processes. Binong Subdistrict, as one of the subdistricts that has many MSMEs, faces challenges in encouraging technology adoption among MSME owners. To overcome this problem, the authors introduce BukuWarung, a digital financial platform, as a practical solution to optimize financial recording. The process involves training and mentoring structured in four steps: outreach, training and mentoring, and evaluation. The results show that MSMEs now better understand the important role of financial management and have successfully adopted BukuWarung for their financial recording needs. In conclusion, socialization and training on the use of the Buku Warung application in Binong Village succeeded in increasing the understanding and skills of MSMEs in utilizing digital technology to support their business.

Financial planning and management for employees of  New Topsy Salon Plaza Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta hasn’t been done optimally. Some employees are unable to pay debts on time and unable to pay mandatory contributions because of various reasons. The purpose of this community service activity is to increase knowledge & skills in financial planning & management, especially for employees at New Topsy Salon Plaza Ambarrukmo Yogyakarta. This community service activity at New Topsy Salon Plaza Ambarrukmo, Yogyakarta was carried out on April 05, 2023. The methods used in community service activities include counseling, discussion, questions and answers. The results, shows that community service activities at New Topsy Salon Plaza Ambarrukmo, Yogyakarta succeeded in providing education about ideal financial planning to employees, including housewives and employees who aren’t married. Participants were able to understand the importance of planning finances systematically and managing expenses, income, and investments to achieve short-term and long-term financial goals.  

Effective and efficient financial management is essential for the success of UMKM. However, UMKM are often hampered in optimizing their performance and competitiveness due to lack of knowledge and skills in financial management. Therefore, this community service aims to train UMKM in financial management to improve their financial literacy and their ability to utilize skills in business management. This activity uses a participatory approach by involving UMKM in the Bugangan Village area and the method includes theoretical explanations and direct practical assistance. The training materials include basic concepts of financial management and simple financial report analysis. The results showed that participants had a better understanding and skills to manage business finances more effectively. In addition, participants also reported increased time efficiency and accuracy of financial records after the training was implemented. Thus, this program is expected to help UMKM become more adaptive to the demands of the digital era and contribute to sustainable local economic growth.

This community service aims to improve understanding and financial management skills among the managers of the Baitul Qurro Islamic Boarding School, South Tangerang. This socialization activity was carried out during October 2021. The objects of this activity were Islamic boarding school managers, including the Islamic boarding school head, treasurer and administrative staff. The activity methods used include training, workshops and focus group discussions. The training includes material on financial planning, budget management, bookkeeping and financial reporting. Interactive workshops provide opportunities for participants to apply the theory they have learned through case studies and practical simulations. Focus group discussions are used to identify specific problems faced in financial management in Islamic boarding schools and find joint solutions. The results of this activity showed a significant increase in financial management understanding and skills among participants. They are able to make better financial plans, manage budgets more efficiently, and carry out more transparent and accurate bookkeeping and financial reporting. The implication of this activity is the creation of a better financial management system at the Baitul Qurro Islamic Boarding School, which in turn will support operational sustainability and development of the Islamic boarding school. Apart from that, improving financial management skills is also expected to increase stakeholder accountability and trust in the management of Islamic boarding school funds.