The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), through the Department of Geography, carried out a Community Engagement (Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat) program titled “Digitizing Information on Local Objects and Heritage: Revitalizing Jasinga as a Historical and Cultural Tourism Destination” in Jasinga District, Bogor Regency. The program was conducted from 11 September to 21 December 2025.
Jasinga District is an area with high historical and cultural value, spanning from the colonial period to the post-revolution era. A number of significant heritage sites—such as the former Emergency Regent’s Office, the Sendung Dam built in 1938, and ancient gravestones—serve as evidence of the richness of local history that, to date, has not been optimally documented or managed.
This community engagement program was carried out by two lecturers and three students from the Department of Geography, FMIPA UI—Dr. Tjiong Giok Pin, S.Si., M.Si., and Dr. Taqyuddin, S.Si., M.Hum., along with students Raisya Khoiri Sukmana Assalam, Aulia Rahma Apriati, and Ira Maya Puspita. The team collaborated with Dr. Fuad Gani, S.S., M.Hum., a lecturer from the Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Indonesia (FIB UI), and worked in partnership with the Bogor People’s Cultural Network (Jaringan Kebudayaan Rakyat Bogor/JAKER) as a strategic local partner.
The Head of the Community Engagement team, Dr. Tjiong Giok Pin, S.Si., M.Si., emphasized that this activity positions the community as the main actor in preserving cultural heritage:
“This activity is not only oriented toward data collection, but also toward community empowerment. We encourage the participation of residents and local communities so that they become the primary subjects in the preservation and development of Jasinga’s historical and cultural potential,” he said.
The series of activities began with a field survey of several natural and cultural tourism sites in Jasinga District, conducted together with a local figure, Didin Ra Dien, who served as a program partner and is a native of Jasinga with in-depth knowledge of the area’s history. During this activity, the team carried out site inventory, recorded coordinate points, and collected historical information by visiting village heads’ residences and historically significant burial sites.
Based on the field survey results, the team compiled digital articles containing information on Jasinga’s history and culture. These articles were then converted into QR codes, allowing the public and visitors to access tourism information digitally by scanning them with smartphones.
The next stage involved the creation of QR code–based digital information boards, which were designed and assembled directly by the community engagement team together with FMIPA UI students using hollow steel frames and PVC boards. These boards were then installed at several strategic points at cultural tourism sites in Jasinga District to ensure easy access for the public.
This community engagement program was also complemented by a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with residents of Jasinga District and related stakeholders, including the Bilik Jasinga community. The FGD aimed to validate and clarify historical information related to the studied sites and heritage objects, while also fostering reciprocal dialogue between academics and the community.
As a program partner and a native of the area, Didin Ra Dien shared his impressions of the implementation of this community engagement activity. He added that efforts to preserve history and culture require long-term continuity.
“This activity provides tangible benefits; however, Jasinga requires sustained, long-term efforts to ensure that its history and culture are not forgotten.”
Overall, the implementation methods included field surveys and documentation, workshops and outreach on cultural heritage preservation, training for local tour guides and storytelling, development of simple promotional media, and community mentoring toward the formation of tourism awareness groups (pokdarwis).
Through this program, the UI community engagement team provided an important initial foundation for the preservation and utilization of cultural heritage sites in Jasinga District. The active involvement of the community and the JAKER network demonstrates a growing collective awareness of the value of local cultural heritage, while also opening opportunities for the development of Jasinga as a sustainable, community-based historical and cultural tourism destination.
