Implementation of the Merdeka Program as Efforts to Improve Competitive Village Economic Development: (A Case Study of the Implementation of the UTS Assisted Village Merdeka Program in 19 Villages in Sumbawa Regency)

This study aims to determine the implementation of the merdeka program as an effort to improve village economic development in 19 assisted villages in the Sumbawa Regency Region and the factors that influence the implementation of the merdeka program. The theoretical approach used to analyze it is the implementation of Public policy according to George C. Edward III's model, namely analysis through four factors that influence the success or failure of implementing a policy, namely factors of resources, communication, disposition and bureaucratic structure. This research is a type of applied research or field research with a qualitative approach. The results show that the implementation of the merdeka program at the Sumbawa University of Technology has been carried out by fulfilling the indicator criteria for developing villages by using aspects of communication, resources, attitudes and bureaucratic structure which is indicated by the formation of an merdeka program implementing team from the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation which in this case through the Directorate of Community Service. Then the factors that influence the success of the implementation of the Merdeka Program at the Sumbawa University of Technology, namely there is a sense of ownership by stakeholders in developing villages in Sumbawa Regency, the active role of village heads in developing villages to improve village economic development through the Merdeka Program and the emergence of innovation and development. the creativity of the Sumbawa University of Technology students in growing and designing village products to be used as the village's flagship product in order to increase the income of the village community