UMS Lecturer Named “Dosen Berdampak” for Advancing Village Innovation

The dedication of a lecturer who inspires young people to develop villages through digital innovation and community empowerment has led Hardika Dwi Hermawan, S.Pd., M.Sc.ITE. to receive an award from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) as an Dosen Berdampak (Impactful Lecturer).

The lecturer from the Informatics Engineering Education Department, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) received recognition for his contributions in driving social and economic transformation across various rural areas in Indonesia

UMS Vice Rector I, Prof. Ihwan Susila, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for this achievement, stating that the award represents acknowledgment of UMS lecturers’ tangible impact on society.

“This is an award for our lecturer, Hardika, who the Ministry recognized for his significant contribution to the community. They call him an ‘Impactful Lecturer,’ and we are truly proud and delighted to have such an outstanding young academic among us,” said Ihwan on Sunday (12/10/2025).

Prof. Ihwan also noted that Hardika’s ideas are futuristic, emphasizing that development should not only focus on urban areas but must also begin from the villages and their people.

“Mas Hardika has a visionary insight. He encourages rural communities to become self-reliant and grow through their own potential. This is a true example of UMS lecturers making a real contribution to the nation,” added Ihwan.

Kemdiktisaintek, together with Paragon Corp, visited UMS on October 12, 2025, to present the Dosen Berdampak award. 

5. UMS PR/Luqman Hakim

Hardika’s achievement was also supported by various strategic collaborations, one of which came from Paragon Corp, a company that provides research and facility support for UMS lecturers.

“Projects like these naturally require funding and partnerships. Paragon is one of the key supporters of Mas Hardika’s programs, along with Pertamina, PLN, and Wardah. This shows that our lecturers’ work is recognized by many parties,” Ihwan explained.

According to Ihwan, Hardika’s success also reflects the world-class quality of UMS human resources. “Mas Hardika not only collaborates with local partners but also with international institutions. This aligns perfectly with UMS vision to be an Islamic education center that drives global change,” he said

Beyond supporting UMS world-class university vision, this achievement strengthens one of its strategic pillars  developing globally impactful human resources. “We want UMS’s lecturers and students to build international networks and produce works that inspire people around the world,” Ihwan concluded.

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At the same event, Hardika Dwi Hermawan shared his journey in founding Desamind, also known as the Desamind Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering young people to become local champions in rural development. Together with his team, he has been actively initiating various digital innovation projects in Indonesia’s 3T regions (frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped areas).

“Desamind was born out of our shared concern. We realized that the knowledge we gain shouldn’t stay confined within academic walls. There’s a social and moral responsibility to serve. Villages hold immense potential, the candle is there, but it hasn’t been lit yet. Our duty is to light those candles,” said Hardika.

He also emphasized the importance of integrating global competence with grassroots understanding. “We want to encourage young people to develop world-class competence while maintaining a strong connection to their roots. Real change often begins in the villages,” he stated.

Through its initiatives, Desamind has launched numerous social innovation projects across 30 partner villages throughout Indonesia. In Sukabumi, West Java, for example, they developed Desamind Farm, a regenerative agriculture project.

In Purbalingga, Central Java, Desamind developed the Beras Pos Cipaku project, while in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, they established the Wana Sahabat Trigona Center, a hub for cultivating Trigona sp. bees. Similar programs have also been implemented in 3T regions such as Asmat, South Papua, and Maluku.

Fathiya Khairiya, CSR Executive of Paragon Corp, recognized the significant potential of the social movement initiated by Hardika. “Desamind is a youth-driven volunteer organization, consisting of young Indonesians both at home and abroad, who are committed to contributing to rural communities. We fully support this kind of spirit because these young people embody both world-class competence and a deep grassroots understanding,” Fathiya explained.

She added that the values promoted by Desamind align closely with Paragon Corp’s commitment to community empowerment and sustainable development. “We’ve seen how young people can take direct action in villages to unlock local potential, even with limited resources. This is a true example of impactful multi-stakeholder collaboration,” she added.

Hardika also emphasized that Desamind operates as a nonprofit organization, with over 400 regional coordinators across Indonesia. None of the volunteers receive salaries, they are driven purely by social responsibility and the spirit of contribution.

“What keeps us going is the emotional connection and a strong sense of belonging. This is not just an organization, it’s a social movement,” he said.

Hardika closed his remarks by quoting Tan Malaka as a reflection for academics: “If the educated youth feel too sophisticated to blend with the rural community, then it would have been better if that education was never given at all. So let’s take action and make real contributions to society,” he concluded passionately.

Writer: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid