Hello, Ilkomers! When people hear the name Unpad, most of them immediately think of the Jatinangor campus or maybe the one in Dipatiukur, Bandung. But here’s the thing, many still don’t know that Unpad also has another branch located in a different region called PSDKU (Off-Main Campus Study Program). This PSDKU campus is in Pangandaran, precisely on Cintaratu Street, Parigi Subdistrict, Pangandaran Regency, West Java.
According to the official Unpad Pangandaran website, this campus was established back in 2016 with the main goal of providing access to quality higher education for people in southern West Java, especially those from Pangandaran, Ciamis, Tasikmalaya, and nearby areas. Beyond that, the establishment of this campus was also expected to contribute to the overall development of West Java, particularly in the Priangan Timur region.
One of the study programs offered at the Pangandaran campus is Communication Science Studies. The decision to open this program wasn’t made randomly, it’s based on actual local needs. As Kurniasih et al. (2020) highlight, Pangandaran is one of West Java’s well-known tourist areas, especially for its coastal destinations. That means the region needs human resources skilled in creative tourism advertising, destination branding, and community empowerment communication to maximize Pangandaran’s tourism potential. Besides Communication Studies, other programs available at the Pangandaran campus include Nursing, Tropical Marine Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Business Administration, all chosen to align with local needs and aimed at improving community welfare in and around Pangandaran.
Because the academic focus here leans more toward tourism and communication, the career prospects for Communication Studies graduates in Pangandaran are also a bit different. Referring to the official Ilkom Unpad website page, students are prepared to become Strategic Planners, Creative Media Developers, and Communication Entrepreneurs. Still, in terms of curriculum, there’s no major difference, the courses taught are essentially the same as those in Jatinangor’s Communication Science Studies programme.
So, now you know why Unpad chose to open a Communication Science Studies program in Pangandaran. Its presence is not just about expanding campus locations but also part of Unpad’s bigger strategy, which is ensuring equal access to higher education, supporting regional tourism, and producing graduates ready to directly contribute to the development of southern West Java.
Yellow Whispers Vol #2