From Garden to School Treasury: The Strategic Role of Public Relations in Optimizing Kindergarten Hydroponic Programs

Authors

  • Amanatul Uluwiyah Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia
  • Yudithia Dian Putra Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia
  • Imron Arifin Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52627/managere.v7i2.629

Keywords:

Public Relations Division, Hydroponic Programs, Communications, Sustainability

Abstract

This study investigates the strategic role of public relations (PR) management in optimizing hydroponic programs at the kindergarten level. Employing a qualitative descriptive case study design, data were collected through interviews, direct observation, and document analysis, validated using triangulation and member checking. The findings reveal four critical themes: innovation-based program planning with financial independence, structured team organization and role allocation, effective communication and stakeholder engagement, and continuous supervision and evaluation. Collectively, these themes demonstrate how PR transforms hydroponic initiatives from extracurricular activities into sustainable, income-generating school business units. Specifically, PR fosters innovation through creative product processing, enhances credibility via transparent communication, and strengthens institutional resilience through systematic monitoring. This study highlights the novelty of integrating entrepreneurial principles into early childhood education through PR, offering a practical model for schools seeking economic empowerment. The implications highlight the importance of proactive PR as a catalyst for sustainable school programs, enriching educational management literature by linking communication strategies, entrepreneurial practices, and community involvement.

References

Adhikari, D. R., & Shrestha, P. (2023). Knowledge Management Initiatives for Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.7: Higher Education Institutions’ Stakeholder Perspectives. Journal of Knowledge Management, 27(4), 1109–1139. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-03-2022-0172

Ahmed, N., Zhang, B., Deng, L., Bozdar, B., Li, J., Chachar, S., Chachar, Z., Jahan, I., Talpur, A., Gishkori, M. S., Hayat, F., & Tu, P. (2024). Advancing Horizons in Vegetable Cultivation: A Journey From Ageold Practices to High-Tech Greenhouse Cultivation—A Review. Frontiers in Plant Science, 15, 1357153. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1357153

Ahsan, M. J. (2025). Cultivating a Culture of Learning: The Role of Leadership in Fostering Lifelong Development. Learning Organization, 32(2), 282–306. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-03-2024-0099

Bazen, A., Barg, F. K., & Takeshita, J. (2021). Research Techniques Made Simple: An Introduction to Qualitative Research. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 141(2), 241-247.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2020.11.029

Ben Hassen, T. (2022). A Transformative State in the Wake of COVID-19: What Is Needed to Enable Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Education in Qatar? Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(13), 7953. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137953

Etzkowitz, H. (2022). Entrepreneurial University Icon: Stanford and Silicon Valley as Innovation and Natural Ecosystem. Industry and Higher Education, 36(4), 361–380. https://doi.org/10.1177/09504222221109504

Fuentes-Peñailillo, F., Gutter, K., Vega, R., & Silva, G. C. (2024). New Generation Sustainable Technologies for Soilless Vegetable Production. Horticulturae, 10(1), 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10010049

Geysi, N. (2025). Empowering Public Relations for Sustainability: Examining the Landscape in Turkey. Corporate Communications, 30(2), 335–354. https://doi.org/10.1108/CCIJ-12-2023-0192

Gumisiriza, M. S., Ndakidemi, P., Nalunga, A., & Mbega, E. R. (2022). Building Sustainable Societies Through Vertical Soilless Farming: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis on a Small-Scale Non-Greenhouse Hydroponic System. Sustainable Cities and Society, 83, 103923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2022.103923

Hernita, H., Surya, B., Perwira, I., Abubakar, H., & Idris, M. (2021). Economic Business Sustainability and Strengthening Human Resource Capacity Based on Increasing the Productivity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Makassar City, Indonesia. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(6), 1–37. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063177

Heyl, K., Ekardt, F., Sund, L., & Roos, P. (2022). Potentials and Limitations of Subsidies in Sustainability Governance: The Example of Agriculture. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(23), 15859. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315859

Jaafar, J. A., Latiff, A. R. A., Daud, Z. M., & Osman, M. N. H. (2023). Does Revenue Diversification Strategy Affect the Financial Sustainability of Malaysian Public Universities? A Panel Data Analysis. Higher Education Policy, 36(1), 116–143. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-021-00247-9

Ju, R., & Dong, C. (2023). When Controversial Businesses Meet Dialogic Communication: Insights From Public Relations Practitioners in the Oil and Gas Industry. Public Relations Review, 49(4), 102347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2023.102347

Khan, N., Ray, R. L., Sargani, G. R., Ihtisham, M., Khayyam, M., & Ismail, S. (2021). Current Progress and Future Prospects of Agriculture Technology: Gateway to Sustainable Agriculture. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(9), 4883. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094883

Kluczkovski, A., Ehgartner, U., Pugh, E., Hockenhull, I., Heaps-Page, R., Williams, A., Thomas, J. M. H., Doherty, B., Bryant, M., & Denby, K. (2024). Aquaponics in Schools: Hands-On Learning About Healthy Eating and a Healthy Planet. Nutrition Bulletin, 49(3), 327–344. https://doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12689

Leal, M., Leal, C., & Silva, R. (2023). The Involvement of Universities, Incubators, Municipalities, and Business Associations in Fostering Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Promoting Local Growth. Administrative Sciences, 13(12), 245. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci13120245

Lim, W. M. (2024). What Is Quantitative Research? An Overview and Guidelines. Australasian Marketing Journal, 33(2), 199–229. https://doi.org/10.1177/14413582241264622

Ogutu, H., Adol, G. F. C., Bujdosó, Z., Andrea, B., Fekete-Farkas, M., & Dávid, L. D. (2023). Theoretical Nexus of Knowledge Management and Tourism Business Enterprise Competitiveness: An Integrated Overview. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(3), 1948. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031948

Perechuda, I., & Čater, T. (2022). Influence of Stakeholders’ Perception on Value Creation and Measurement: The Case of Football Clubs. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal, 12(1), 54–76. https://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-03-2021-0035

Ray, P., Reddy, S. S., & Banerjee, T. (2021). Various Dimension Reduction Techniques for High Dimensional Data Analysis: A Review. Artificial Intelligence Review, 54(5), 3473–3515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-020-09928-0

Schaeffer, P. R., Guerrero, M., & Fischer, B. B. (2021). Mutualism in Ecosystems of Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Bidirectional Perspective on Universities’ Linkages. Journal of Business Research, 134, 184–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.05.039

Sisodia, G. S., Alshamsi, R., & Sergi, B. S. (2021). Business Valuation Strategy for New Hydroponic Farm Development – A Proposal Towards Sustainable Agriculture Development in United Arab Emirates. British Food Journal, 123(4), 1560–1577. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-06-2020-0557

Sousa, R. de, Bragança, L., da Silva, M. V., & Oliveira, R. S. (2024). Challenges and Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems: The Potential of Home Hydroponics. Sustainability (Switzerland), 16(2), 817. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020817

Stegelmeier, A. A., Rose, D. M., Joris, B. R., & Glick, B. R. (2022). The Use of PGPB to Promote Plant Hydroponic Growth. Plants, 11(20), 2783. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11202783

Sun, Y., Tian, W., Mehmood, U., Zhang, X., & Tariq, S. (2023). How Do Natural Resources, Urbanization, and Institutional Quality Meet With Ecological Footprints in the Presence of Income Inequality and Human Capital in the Next Eleven Countries? Resources Policy, 85, 104007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.104007

Toukabri, M., & Toukabri, M. (2023). Football Industry Accounting as a Social and Organizational Practice: From the Implementation of the CSR Process to Integrated Reporting. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 36(5), 725–753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-022-09621-z

Urcia, I. A. (2021). Comparisons of Adaptations in Grounded Theory and Phenomenology: Selecting the Specific Qualitative Research Methodology. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 20, 16094069211045474. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211045474

Vieira Nunhes, T., Espuny, M., Lauá Reis Campos, T., Santos, G., Bernardo, M., & Oliveira, O. J. (2022). Guidelines to Build the Bridge Between Sustainability and Integrated Management Systems: A Way to Increase Stakeholder Engagement Toward Sustainable Development. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 29(5), 1617–1635. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2308

Wang, Q. (2021). Higher Education Institutions and Entrepreneurship in Underserved Communities. Higher Education, 81(6), 1273–1291. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-020-00611-5

Xiang, R., Wang, W., Yang, L., Wang, S., Xu, C., & Chen, X. (2021). A Comparison for Dimensionality Reduction Methods of Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data. Frontiers in Genetics, 12, 646936. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2021.646936

Downloads

Published

2025-07-10

How to Cite

Amanatul Uluwiyah, Yudithia Dian Putra, & Imron Arifin. (2025). From Garden to School Treasury: The Strategic Role of Public Relations in Optimizing Kindergarten Hydroponic Programs . Managere: Indonesian Journal of Educational Management, 7(2), 149–162. https://doi.org/10.52627/managere.v7i2.629

Issue

Section

Articles