Balikpapan - Learning opportunities beyond the classroom continue to provide valuable experiences for students of Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK). Rifkihadi Rahmatullah, a 2022 student of the Digital Business Study Program, participated in the Ekspedisi Patriot program through the Thematic Community Service Program (KKN Tematik), carried out in collaboration with Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) as part of a mission under the Ministry of Transmigration.

Rifkihadi’s involvement in the program began when he received an offer from the head of his study program to take part in a collaborative activity with ITK’s Urban and Regional Planning Study Program (PWK). The program carried the theme Designing a Collaborative Institutional Economic Model for Transmigration Areas, focusing on strengthening economic institutional models in transmigration regions.

Under the supervision of Deli Yansyah, S.E., M.Acc., Ak., Rifkihadi spent approximately four months gaining field experience. The program not only served as a space to apply academic knowledge, but also opened opportunities to interact directly with local communities, understand regional conditions, and observe more closely the challenges of economic development in transmigration areas.

Learning from the Field, Facing Many Realities

For Rifkihadi, joining Ekspedisi Patriot left him with countless stories. He gained new knowledge, friends, networks, cultural experiences, and unexpected moments that broadened his perspective as a student.

“There were so many new experiences, new lessons, new friends, new connections, new cultures, and many unexpected events,” Rifkihadi shared.

During the program, Rifkihadi also had the opportunity to interact with lecturers from SBM ITB. This experience encouraged him to think more critically, make decisions with confidence, and understand that field research requires resilience, social awareness, and adaptability.

Long Journeys and Unexpected Experiences

Carrying out the program in a transmigration area was not always easy. Rifkihadi explained that road access was one of the main challenges. Every day, the team had to travel tens to hundreds of kilometers, often taking around two to three hours.

Even so, these challenges did not dampen his enthusiasm. Instead, the field conditions helped him understand that community service and research are not only about data, but also about people, places, and the social dynamics within them.

One of the most memorable experiences was when Rifkihadi and his team encountered a hailstorm accompanied by strong winds. The incident damaged several residents’ houses, caused trees to fall, raised water levels, and destroyed rooftops due to the heavy hail.

“Honestly, it was my first time experiencing something like that. Many residents’ houses collapsed, large trees fell, the water rose, and hailstones came down at high speed,” he recalled.

ITK Impact through Collaboration and Service

The participation of ITK students in Ekspedisi Patriot reflects the spirit of ITK Impact, presenting meaningful contributions through knowledge, collaboration, and service to society. Through this program, students did not only study issues from an academic perspective, but also went directly into the field to understand community needs more comprehensively.

Rifkihadi hopes that the research findings and data collected during the program will not stop as mere reports. He wants the field findings to be continued, implemented, and translated into real benefits for the development of transmigration areas.

“I hope this research will continue, not just become a report that is never implemented. Don’t let the data we collected only end up as paper used to wrap food,” he said.

Rifkihadi’s experience in Ekspedisi Patriot shows that meaningful learning often comes from the courage to go into the field, listen, observe, and work alongside communities. From the classroom to transmigration areas, ITK students continue to prove that knowledge can become a pathway to creating impact.