Publication Search

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.

The community service program in Dusun Bendrong aimed to foster environmental awareness through the planting of timber and fruit seedlings as a response to declining forest quality and reduced water availability caused by vegetation loss. This program sought to enhance community participation in forest conservation while strengthening local wisdom related to environmental stewardship. The activity was conducted in three stages: pre-activity observation and coordination with the Village Head and community leaders, joint planting of 14 seedlings by Student Community Service (KKM) participants and local residents, and monitoring and evaluation to assess implementation and participant understanding. The results showed that all seedlings were successfully planted, with high levels of participation from both students and community members. The activity increased awareness of forest conservation and highlighted the importance of collective action in maintaining environmental sustainability. Timber trees contributed to forest restoration, improved water absorption, and reduced erosion risk, while fruit trees provided additional economic and social benefits for the community. Overall, this participatory approach proved effective as a sustainable model for community service programs that integrate environmental conservation and community empowerment.

This study aims to introduce the convenience of digital transactions through socialization of the use of the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) to residents of Marihat Bukit Village. This activity was motivated by the low public understanding of the use of non-cash transactions, particularly QRIS, which is an innovative integrated digital payment system from Bank Indonesia. Through socialization and direct practice, residents were introduced to how to use QRIS in various daily transactions, such as shopping, paying for services, and other local economic activities. The results of the activity showed an increase in public understanding and interest in the use of digital transactions that are easier, faster, and safer. It is hoped that this activity will encourage digital financial inclusion in rural areas and support government programs to expand literacy and the application of financial technology in the community. Furthermore, active community participation in this activity shows great potential to reduce dependence on cash transactions and encourage digital transformation at the village level. This activity is also expected to accelerate the transition to a more inclusive and digital-based society.

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.

This study aims to examine the use of piggy banks as a means of financial literacy education among elementary school students. Piggy piggy banks are seen as a simple but effective learning medium in instilling the habit of saving, managing money, and forming a frugal character from an early age. Through a qualitative descriptive approach, this research involves students, teachers, and parents as the main data source with interview and observation techniques. The results of the study show that the use of piggy banks not only increases children's understanding of the concept of money and economic value, but also fosters financial responsibility and awareness from an early age. Teachers play an important role in providing direction and assistance, while the role of parents is a reinforcement of the practice of saving at home. In addition, saving through piggy banks has been proven to increase motivation to learn, because children feel that they have financial goals that they want to achieve. Education through piggy banks is the first step in building a strong financial literacy foundation, so that children are used to planning their money wisely and consistently. Thus, piggy banks can be used as effective contextual learning innovations at the elementary school level.