Jakarta. Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) has won three awards at the 2026 Abdidaya Program for Strengthening Student Organization Capacity (PPK Ormawa), recognizing its students and faculty for developing innovative solutions to community challenges.

The awards were announced at the national program’s closing ceremony at Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI) in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Oct. 24, 2026.

UPH received second place in the Most Active Faculty Advisor category for Prof. Adolf J. N. Parhusip of its Faculty of Science and Technology (FaST), second place in the Most Inspiring Implementation Team category for its undergraduate Pharmacy Student Association, and third place in the Most Collaborative Student Organization category for its Food Technology Student Association.

The achievement further establishes UPH as the highest-awarded university among institutions under the Regional Office of Higher Education (LLDikti) Region III at this year’s event, underscoring the university’s emphasis on applying academic knowledge to sustainable community development.

The Abdidaya PPK Ormawa awards recognize university students who carry out community service and empowerment initiatives through student organizations. This year’s event brought together 120 implementation teams from 60 universities, with awards covering student teams, organizations, faculty advisors, universities, sustainability partners and program outputs, including posters, videos and exhibition booths.

Dr. Andry M. Panjaitan, UPH’s associate vice president for student development, alumni and corporate relations, said the achievement reflected collaboration among the university, faculties, academic programs, partners, local governments and communities, supported by a mentoring process that encourages students to develop creative ideas and apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.

“For UPH, this achievement is not just about awards, but also about the process through which students learn to turn ideas into useful solutions,” Andry said. “The awards demonstrate the importance of collaboration within organizations, the teams’ dedication to implementing their programs, and the role of faculty members in guiding students throughout the process.”

He added that UPH hoped the experience would encourage students to continue creating meaningful work, delivering tangible benefits to communities and growing into individuals who are God-fearing, excellent and impactful.

Smart Farming and Food Innovation.

The Pharmacy Student Association and Food Technology Student Association earned recognition for initiatives designed to address local needs while creating opportunities for community development.

The Pharmacy Student Association won second place in the Most Inspiring Implementation Team category for its smart farming initiative, which supports the Cempaka Batan Indah Women Farmers Group in Kademangan, South Tangerang.

The initiative uses sensor-based automation to improve watering efficiency for tanaman obat keluarga (TOGA), or household medicinal plants, and support mushroom cultivation. By introducing smart farming technology, the students aim to help the community manage cultivation activities more efficiently while applying practical technological solutions to local agricultural needs.

Meanwhile, the Food Technology Student Association received third place in the Most Collaborative Student Organization category for LESTARI, short for Lele Sehat Tigaraksa Mandiri, a community empowerment initiative focused on developing higher-value food products from catfish.

The program seeks to make better use of catfish parts that have not traditionally been fully utilized, turning them into value-added food products and creating additional business opportunities for the community.

The initiative has helped increase the community’s weekly revenue in Tigaraksa to approximately Rp3.4 million, up about 300% from the previous range of Rp700,000 to Rp900,000. The results illustrate how product diversification and the use of local resources can help small community-based enterprises expand their market opportunities.

Prof. Adolf, whose mentoring efforts were recognized with second place in the Most Active Faculty Advisor category, said the achievement reflected the collective work of students, faculty members and local communities in developing local potential through the LESTARI program.

He said the initiative gave students an opportunity to apply food science and technology while exploring ways to create economic value, develop entrepreneurial opportunities and improve community welfare.

“I am grateful for this award because it recognizes the hard work, creativity and collaboration of students in delivering practical solutions for the community,” Adolf said.

“As a lecturer, I want students not only to excel academically, but also to develop a sense of social responsibility, the courage to innovate and the ability to apply their knowledge to address community needs.”

He said he would continue supporting students in developing sustainable empowerment initiatives, strengthening community self-reliance and expanding their impact through collaboration with various stakeholders.

“For me, the greatest achievement is not simply when students win awards, but when knowledge and collective effort bring meaningful change to people’s lives,” he said.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

The two student organizations’ participation in PPK Ormawa demonstrates how experiential learning can connect academic knowledge with the needs of communities. Through direct engagement, students gain opportunities to develop practical skills, collaborate across different groups and create solutions informed by local conditions.

Faculty mentorship also plays a central role in the process, helping students identify community potential, refine innovative ideas and translate them into initiatives with practical and lasting value.

For UPH, the recognition aligns with its commitment to holistic education and personal development, preparing students to become future leaders who combine academic excellence with social responsibility.

By encouraging students to work alongside communities and develop solutions rooted in local potential, UPH aims to foster graduates who can contribute to sustainable development and make a meaningful difference in society.

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