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This study investigates why applicants who have passed the initial admissions stage do not proceed to final enrolment in an Indonesian private higher education context. While student recruitment is often measured by the number of applications received, institutional sustainability depends on the ability to convert applicants into enrolled students. This study employed a descriptive survey design supported by thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Data were collected from 179 applicants who had participated in the admissions process but did not complete final re-registration. The data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, and thematic categorization. The findings show that conversion failure is influenced by several factors, including waiting for public university admission results, financial constraints, postponement of study plans, family considerations, uncertainty about the institution or study programmed, preference for other institutions, and campus accessibility. A key finding reveals that 58.1% of respondents would reconsider enrolment if scholarships, tuition discounts, or other financial assistance were available. These findings highlight the need for a conversion management strategy through targeted financial aid, transparent cost communication, family engagement, and proactive applicant follow-up.  

Introduction: Smartphone use has increased substantially in higher education and is widely used by university students for both academic and non-academic activities. Prolonged smartphone use combined with poor posture may increase mechanical load on cervical structures and lead to neck pain. This study aimed to examine the relationship between smartphone use and neck pain intensity among students at IKES Suaka Insan. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 55 undergraduate nursing and physiotherapy students selected using cluster sampling. Smartphone use was assessed using a structured questionnaire, while neck pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rho correlation test. Results: The analysis showed a weak negative association between smartphone use and neck pain intensity (r = -0.16), with a p-value of 0.20 (>0.05), indicating no statistically significant relationship. Conclusion: There was no significant association between smartphone use and neck pain intensity among students. Future studies should include ergonomic posture and duration of smartphone use as additional variables.

Introduction: Smartphone use has increased substantially in higher education and is widely used by university students for both academic and non-academic activities. Prolonged smartphone use combined with poor posture may increase mechanical load on cervical structures and lead to neck pain. This study aimed to examine the relationship between smartphone use and neck pain intensity among students at IKES Suaka Insan. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 55 undergraduate nursing and physiotherapy students selected using cluster sampling. Smartphone use was assessed using a structured questionnaire, while neck pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rho correlation test. Results: The analysis showed a weak negative association between smartphone use and neck pain intensity (r = -0.16), with a p-value of 0.20 (>0.05), indicating no statistically significant relationship. Conclusion: There was no significant association between smartphone use and neck pain intensity among students. Future studies should include ergonomic posture and duration of smartphone use as additional variables.

The community service activities aim to improve business financial management skills and student readiness in facing the 2026 Indonesian Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Festival (FIKSI). The program is implemented by lecturers of the Digital Business Study Program at Al-Irsyad University Cilacap together with supervising teachers and 26 FIKSI finalist students from SMA Negeri 2 Cilacap, SMA Negeri 3 Cilacap, and SMA Negeri 1 Maos. The main problem faced by partners is the low ability to prepare business financial reports and the use of digital technology in business development. The method used is Participatory Action Research (PAR) through stages of socialization, training, technology implementation, mentoring, evaluation, and program sustainability. The results of the activity show an increase in student understanding and skills in recording transactions, calculating the cost of production, preparing profit and loss and cash flow reports, and utilizing digital financial applications and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support business development. In addition, supervising teachers received capacity building in assisting students in aspects of financial management and preparing business proposals. The establishment of the Smart Fintech Young Entrepreneur Community is a sustainable strategy for the program to support the development of digital entrepreneurship in schools. This program has proven effective in improving the quality of business and improving students' readiness for entrepreneurship competitions.

Students of the Indonesian School of Jeddah (SIJ) are predominantly categorized as Third Culture Kids (TCK) who face sociocultural challenges and complex health determinants, including a high risk of dental caries and limited character monitoring outside the classroom. This transnational community service program aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated educational model using audio-visual media through the “Happy Teeth, Bright Smile” campaign and self-monitoring through the “My Adventure Journal” in improving oral health literacy and students’ character behavior. The study employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach with mixed methods involving 155 elementary and junior high school students. Dental knowledge data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test, while journal compliance was calculated descriptively using the Grand Mean method and triangulated with content analysis of parental feedback. The results showed that elementary students’ compliance with daily character missions increased by 28.31%, particularly in the discipline dimension. Among junior high school students, multimedia intervention significantly improved clinical preventive knowledge (p < 0.001), with mean scores increasing from 77.00 to 90.20. Parental feedback indicated improvements in self-regulation, responsibility, and self-confidence. The study concludes that optimizing the Tripartite Partnership among university students, schools, and parents is effective in strengthening psychosocial resilience and students’ basic health independence in a transnational environment.

Education plays a fundamental role in shaping the quality of human resources and determining national progress. However, many young people still lack awareness and motivation regarding the importance of education due to limited access to information, socioeconomic challenges, and insufficient understanding of its long-term benefits. This Community Service Program aims to increase young people’s awareness of the importance of education through collaboration among multiple universities. The program involved lecturers and students from various higher education institutions who conducted educational outreach activities, motivational seminars, interactive discussions, and mentoring sessions. Methods used included educational counseling, inspirational presentations, question-and-answer sessions, and participant evaluations. The results show an improvement in participants’ understanding, motivation, and awareness of education as an investment in the future. In addition, inter-university collaboration expanded the program’s reach, enriched perspectives shared with participants, and strengthened higher education institutions’ commitment to community engagement. This initiative demonstrates that cross-university synergy can serve as an effective and sustainable model for fostering educational awareness and supporting the development of future generations in diverse communities.

Sharia financial literacy is an important aspect in supporting inclusive and sustainable economic development. However, the level of sharia financial literacy among Indonesian society is still relatively low. This condition creates opportunities for Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) to play a strategic role in improving young generations’ understanding of financial management based on sharia principles. Therefore, this community service activity aimed to enhance the sharia financial literacy and inclusion of students through the SAKINAH (Santri Cakap Literasi Keuangan Syariah) Program at Nurul Abshor Islamic Boarding School, Katingan Regency. The program was implemented using a participatory educational approach through socialization, interactive discussions, simple simulations, and participant evaluations. The activity was carried out through collaboration among the Financial Services Authority (OJK) of Central Kalimantan Province, the Islamic Economic Society of Katingan Regency, PT Bank Syariah Indonesia Palangka Raya, Nurul Abshor Islamic Boarding School, the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team of Katingan Regency, and students of Palangka Raya University. The results showed an improvement in students’ understanding of the importance of saving, the ability to distinguish between needs and wants, sharia financial management, and knowledge of legal and trustworthy sharia financial products and services. The SAKINAH Program was also considered effective in encouraging students to become agents of sharia financial literacy within the pesantren environment and the wider community.

A safe and inclusive learning environment is an important factor in supporting the educational process. However, various forms of bullying behavior, such as teasing, giving negative nicknames, and social exclusion, are still found in schools and may hinder the creation of a comfortable and child-friendly learning environment. This community service activity aimed to improve students’ understanding of bullying and its impacts, as well as to instill the values of mutual respect as an effort to create a safe and inclusive learning environment. The activity was conducted at SD Negeri 2 Muara Batu, Aceh Utara Regency, through the XXXVIII Community Service and Empowerment Program (KKN-PPM) of Malikussaleh University in 2026. The methods used were educational and participatory approaches implemented through preparation, implementation, and evaluation stages. The activities were carried out through socialization sessions, discussions, question-and-answer sessions, simulations, and educational games. The results showed an improvement in students’ understanding of the forms, causes, and impacts of bullying, including verbal, physical, and social bullying. In addition, students demonstrated more positive attitudes, such as increased awareness of respecting differences, treating peers with respect, reducing teasing behavior, and developing empathy and concern for others. The activity also received positive responses from the school, as it was considered supportive of character education and the creation of a more conducive learning atmosphere. Therefore, anti-bullying education through educational and participatory approaches can serve as an effective strategy for creating a safe, comfortable, and inclusive learning environment for elementary school students.

The rapid growth of e-commerce among university students has provided greater convenience in conducting digital transactions. However, it has also created various challenges, including online fraud, discrepancies between advertised and delivered products, delayed shipments, and limited understanding of consumer rights and dispute resolution mechanisms. This community service program aimed to enhance legal literacy and increase students’ awareness of consumer protection in electronic transactions, particularly within the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) of Yapis University Papua. The program employed an educational-participatory approach through counseling sessions, interactive discussions, case simulations, and participant comprehension evaluations. The materials covered consumer rights and obligations, common violations in electronic transactions, complaint procedures on e-commerce platforms, and non-litigation dispute resolution mechanisms. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in students’ understanding of consumer protection laws, their ability to identify violations of consumer rights, and their knowledge of appropriate actions when disputes arise in online shopping transactions. Furthermore, participants showed strong engagement throughout the activities and were able to apply their knowledge effectively during case simulations. The program contributed to the development of more critical, informed, responsible, and legally aware digital consumers who are better prepared to engage safely and confidently in e-commerce activities.

Medical students need to take the Competence test as Doctor Profession Program (UKMPPD) to be passed and earned their medical profession. Exams are one of the most common stressors experienced by medical students and the body will respond to these stressors in the form of feelings of depression or anxiety. Anxiety and depression itself can affect student performance during exam preparation. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between anxiety and depression on the preparation of the Professional Doctoral Program Competency Test (UKMPPD) for students of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Pattimura. The method used is quantitative analysis with cross sectional research design and total sampling technique. The sample is all the student population of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Pattimura who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria, totaling 90 respondents. The results showed that the majority of respondents experienced mild anxiety symptoms, which is 37% during the CBT exam and 34% during the OSCE exam. The majority of respondents also did not experience depression, which is 68% during the CBT and 70% during the OSCE and the majority had an optimal level of preparation for UKMPPD, which is 63% during the CBT and 64% during the OSCE. Data analysis using the chi square test showed a significant relationship between anxiety symptom and the level of preparation for UKMPPD both CBT (p=0.030) and OSCE (p=0.012). There was no significant relationship between depression symptom and the level of preparation for UKMPPD for both CBT (p=0.123) and OSCE (p=0.07). It can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between anxiety and preparation for UKMPPD, but there is no significant relationship between depression and preparation for UKMPPD.

This community service activity aims to boost the self-confidence of seventh-grade students at SMP Negeri 2 Taniwel Timur, West Seram Regency, many of whom struggle with speaking in public. The activity was conducted through an arts performance as part of the University of Pattimura’s Community Service Program (KKN). The process was divided into three simple stages: preparation (meetings with the school and selecting competitions such as public speaking, poetry reading, or solo singing), implementation (students performed for 2 hours while receiving praise and positive feedback), and evaluation (observing changes such as more confident eye contact and a louder voice). As a result, the students participated actively, and their hesitation decreased significantly due to hands-on practice and support from teachers and peers. The arts performance proved to be an easy and comprehensive way to help students become more confident and sociable.

This study explores Indonesian EFL student teachers’ experiences of learning to write news articles through blogging in a Journalism course. The study was motivated by the need to provide meaningful and genre-based writing practice for EFL student teachers, who often face difficulties in generating ideas, organizing information, meeting genre expectations, and writing for authentic aences. Employing a qualitative case study design, the study involved twenty undergraduate student teachers from a private Islamic university in Tangerang, Indonesia; all participants completed an online quetaire, and five volunteers joined follow-up semi-structured interviews. The questionnaire data were alysed descriptively, while the interview data were examined thematically. The findings indicate that blogging supported regular writing practice, helped students understand news text structure, enouraged clearer organization of headlines, leads, and supporting details, and increased engagement by allowing students to publish and share their work. Blogging also promoted peer interaction and selfevaluation because students could read, compare, and comment on one another’s posts. However, some paticpants eprienced challenges related to technical blogging skills, uncertainty about writing standards, limited peer feedback, and discomfort with public online publication. The study concludes that blogging can serve as a useful platform for EFL news writing when it is supported by explicit istrucion, relevant tasks, clear assessment criteria, structured feedback, and ethical awareness in using digital and AI-driven tools.

This study examines the performance of student administrative services in the Society 5.0 era at the Bureau of Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Planning of Gorontalo State University, focusing on scholarship services. It addresses the need for accessible, responsive, transparent, inclusive, and student-centered administrative services in higher education. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis. Informants included bureau leaders, scholarship and financial aid administrators, operational officers, and students receiving various scholarship schemes. Thematic analysis was conducted through data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing, while validity was ensured through source triangulation, method triangulation, and member checking. The findings show that accessibility has improved through service counters, websites, social media, WhatsApp, online forms, SIMPEL BAKP, and coordination with faculties and study programs. However, information remains fragmented, digital standard operating procedures are not uniform, and disability-inclusive access is limited. Responsiveness is supported by direct and digital communication, but it lacks a dedicated complaint system, automatic notifications, selection-status dashboards, and real-time disbursement tracking. Service quality is perceived as fairly good because students experience professional, friendly, and fair treatment. Nevertheless, service documentation, procedural standardization, staff training, and humanistic technology integration need strengthening. The study concludes that scholarship administration should be transformed into a centralized, inclusive, responsive, transparent, and student-centered digital-humanistic service model.

Instagram social media addiction has become an increasingly common phenomenon among university students. Excessive use of Instagram can negatively affect mental, social, and academic well-being, and may increase the risk of social anxiety. Students who experience Instagram addiction tend to have reduced direct social interaction, and fear of negative evaluation from others, which are key factors contributing to social anxiety. This study aims to determine the relationship between Instagram social media addiction and social anxiety among students. This study used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 105 respondents selected using purposive sampling. The instruments used were the Instagram Addiction Scale (TIAS) and the Social Anxiety Scale for Social Media Users (SAS-SMU). Data analysis was conducted using the Chi-Square test. The results showed that most respondents had a moderate level of Instagram addiction (56.2%) and a moderate level of social anxiety (68.6%). The Chi-Square test indicated a significant relationship between Instagram addiction and social anxiety, with a p-value < 0.001 (p < 0.05). There is a significant relationship between Instagram addiction and social anxiety among students. However, the relationship is not always linear, as higher levels of addiction do not necessarily correspond to higher levels of social anxiety.

Instagram social media addiction has become an increasingly common phenomenon among university students. Excessive use of Instagram can negatively affect mental, social, and academic well-being, and may increase the risk of social anxiety. Students who experience Instagram addiction tend to have reduced direct social interaction, and fear of negative evaluation from others, which are key factors contributing to social anxiety. This study aims to determine the relationship between Instagram social media addiction and social anxiety among students. This study used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 105 respondents selected using purposive sampling. The instruments used were the Instagram Addiction Scale (TIAS) and the Social Anxiety Scale for Social Media Users (SAS-SMU). Data analysis was conducted using the Chi-Square test. The results showed that most respondents had a moderate level of Instagram addiction (56.2%) and a moderate level of social anxiety (68.6%). The Chi-Square test indicated a significant relationship between Instagram addiction and social anxiety, with a p-value < 0.001 (p < 0.05). There is a significant relationship between Instagram addiction and social anxiety among students. However, the relationship is not always linear, as higher levels of addiction do not necessarily correspond to higher levels of social anxiety.

Increased caffeine intake is commonly used by students to cope with academic demands, especially during examinations and the completion of final projects. Excessive caffeine consumption may affected sleep quality and potentially influence nutritional status. This study aimed to determine the correlation between caffeine intake, sleep disturbances, and nutritional status among final – year unsergarduated students at Dr. Soekardjo University. This study used quantitative approach with an observational analytic and cross-sectinal design. A total of 108 students participated in the study. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using the Spearman Rank correlations test. The findings indicated that the most of respondents with low caffeine intake experienced mild sleep disturbances, totaling 56 respondents (80%). Meanwhile, respondents with moderate and high caffeine intake mostly experienced moderated sleep disturbances, with 13 respondents (61.9%) and 9 respondents (52.9%), respectively. The results showed a significant correlation between caffeine intake and sleep disturbances (p-value=0.000). In all categories of caffeine intake, most respondents had normal nutritional status. However, no significant relationship was found between caffeine intake and nutritional status (p-value=0.351). In conclusion, caffeine intake was associated with sleep disturbances but not with nutritional status among final-year undergraduate students.

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of assertive communication techniques in cross-cultural counseling for reducing avoidance behavior among students experiencing interpersonal friendship conflicts. Cultural differences between counselors and clients may influence communication patterns, emotional expression, and conflict resolution processes during counseling sessions. Friendship conflicts among university students commonly arise from jealousy, misunderstanding, social comparison, and ineffective interpersonal communication. These conditions often encourage students to avoid direct interaction to prevent further conflict. This study employed an experimental method using a One Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The participants were students who experienced friendship conflicts and demonstrated avoidance behavior tendencies. Data were collected through counseling individual. The intervention was delivered through counseling sessions that used assertive communication techniques and combined behavioral and humanistic approaches in a cross-cultural counseling setting. The findings revealed that assertive communication techniques were effective in reducing students’ avoidance behavior. After receiving the intervention, participants demonstrated greater confidence in expressing opinions, improved emotional regulation, increased openness in communication, and healthier interpersonal relationships. The study indicates that assertive communication in cross-cultural counseling can serve as an effective counseling strategy to help students manage interpersonal conflicts and improve social adjustment in higher education environments.

Street names are a vital public information tool that helps people identify locations, find addresses, and reinforce the identity of a region. The availability of street names also supports the effectiveness of administrative services, community mobility, and emergency service access. Srigonco Village, Bantur District, Malang Regency, still faces a lack of street names, making it difficult for residents and visitors to find specific addresses. Based on this situation, students from the 14th Community Service Program (KKN-T) at Raden Rahmat Islamic University (Unira) Malang implemented a community service program involving mapping and installing street names at several strategic locations in the village. The implementation method included field observation, street name data collection, coordination with village officials, design and production, and installation of the street names. This program aims to improve access to location information, clarify regional identity, and support orderly village administration. The results of the activity indicate that the presence of street names provides tangible benefits to the community, particularly in facilitating address searches, improving environmental order, and helping visitors to identify Srigonco Village more easily and effectively.

The development of Islamic banking activities in Indonesia currently is not matched by adequate understanding among students, particularly regarding the rights and obligations of customers, Sharia contract literacy, and consumer protection mechanisms. This Community Service Activity aims to enhance the understanding of Muara Bungo University students regarding customer rights and obligations, complaint procedures, basic sharia contract literacy, prevention of detrimental service practices, and the resolution process for sharia banking consumer disputes. The activity was attended by 50 students from all faculties and department, conducted using the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach through the stages of problem identification, planning, implementation with interactive lecture methods, and evaluation. The results of the activity showed a significant increase in understanding, marked by the growing awareness of participants regarding the rights and obligations of customers, understanding of Islamic banking contracts, as well as the ability to comprehend consumer protection concepts and the dispute resolution process effectively. Consumer protection literacy education has proven to have a positive impact on students in preparing themselves to face the banking world, both in the context of employment and business in the future.

 The rapid adoption of smartphones among Indonesian digital natives has increased reliance on biometric authentication systems. However, empirical evidence regarding the relationship between user satisfaction and security risk awareness remains limited, particularly in developing-country contexts. This study investigates the behavioral dynamics of biometric security perception among 266 respondents, consisting of 221 high school students and 45 university students in Indonesia. A Python-based computational pipeline incorporating Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) validation and 1,000-iteration stochastic bootstrapping was employed to evaluate nonlinear behavioral patterns using Polynomial Regression and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multivariate analysis. The results confirm the existence of a nonlinear Security Paradox. While the overall population demonstrates a positive quadratic trajectory, the university student group exhibits a concave-down parabolic relationship (a=−0.0460), indicating a decline in perceived utility beyond a specific security threshold. The identified behavioral breaking point occurs at X≈5.45 (95% CI: 2.99–20.77), suggesting that excessive security hardening may reduce perceived usability and increase cognitive friction. Furthermore, the ablation analysis reveals that security risk awareness (p<0.001) is the strongest predictor of user satisfaction, exceeding the influence of daily usage intensity. Segment-level analysis further demonstrates behavioral divergence between respondent groups. High school students exhibit relatively uniform satisfaction toward biometric systems, whereas university students display greater variability and more critical perceptions regarding authentication friction. These findings indicate that highly rigid security configurations may become less effective for users with higher digital literacy and risk awareness. This study contributes a computationally validated behavioral framework for understanding security–utility trade-offs and provides a conceptual foundation for developing adaptive, user-centric, and friction-aware biometric authentication systems.