The Dean and leadership of the Faculty of Law, led by Dean Prof. Dr. Ali Masyhar, SH. MH., and his staff, including Vice Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Indah Sri Utari, SH. MHum., Vice Dean for Resources and Planning Aprila Niravita SH. MKn., and Vice Dean for Business, Research, and Cooperation M. Azil Maskur, SH. MH., held the inauguration of the Community Laboratory located in Lerep Village, West Ungaran District, Semarang Regency, Central Java.
The Community Laboratory was established as a response to the increasingly complex social, economic, technological, and environmental challenges facing society. In this context, universities serve not only as centers of knowledge but also as drivers of social innovation capable of providing real solutions. The Community Laboratory is not simply a space for academic experimentation, but rather a collaborative forum that brings together universities, village governments, and local communities to jointly identify problems, explore local potential, and formulate applicable, contextual, and sustainable solutions oriented toward village development.
The purpose of the UNNES Faculty of Law Community Laboratory is to develop research and community service, as well as to serve as a learning space with the primary goal of increasing legal awareness and empowerment within the community, particularly within Lerep Village. The UNNES Faculty of Law Community Laboratory represents an innovative breakthrough, serving as a shared learning center, a research platform, and a platform for participatory empowerment. In addition to being a hub for innovation, the UNNES Faculty of Law Community Laboratory also functions as a public education facility and a forum for community discussion.
Furthermore, the outreach activities held in Lerep Village foster a shared understanding that village development cannot rely solely on government intervention but requires the involvement of all parties, including the community itself. The outreach activities are also expected to foster critical, innovative, and collaborative thinking within the community in addressing various social, economic, and environmental challenges. Thus, the Community Laboratory can truly serve as a shared platform for creating local solutions to village problems while optimizing existing potential.
Lerep Village was chosen for a reason. This village is known as a tourist village with a rich culture, traditions, and local wisdom that are still preserved to this day. Furthermore, its natural and cultural potential, along with the village government’s commitment to promoting development and empowerment programs, make Lerep Village a suitable and strategic location for the implementation of the Community Laboratory concept.
With the socialization and presence of the Community Laboratory, it is hoped that the community will better understand that the program is not solely for academic research purposes, but is also aimed at providing tangible benefits to improve the quality of life of the village community.
The successful implementation of the Community Laboratory socialization program is thanks to the collaboration that has been established over the years between the Faculty of Law, UNNES, the Head of Lerep Village, Mr. Sumariyadi, S.T., all village officials, especially Village Secretary Sri Lestari, and the community of Lerep Village, West Ungaran District, Semarang Regency, Central Java.
