IPB University Awards Scholarships to Thailand Students to Study Community Empowerment Through OVOC International 2026

Through the One Village One CEO (OVOC) International 2026 program, IPB University is providing community development scholarships to students at Songkhla Rajabhat University, Thailand. This collaboration represents a strategic step to expand global networks while introducing the innovation-based community development model developed by IPB University to the international community.

This commitment was conveyed during a meeting between an IPB University delegation and the leadership of Songkhla Rajabhat University in late May. The team also conducted an outreach session on OVOC International 2026, which is seen as aligning with both universities’ commitment to supporting academic excellence, global collaboration, and sustainable community development.

Prof Rokhani Hasbullah, Vice Chair of Business Incubation and Industry Collaboration Division at IPB University, explained that OVOC serves as a platform for learning and cross border collaboration in building community based economies rooted in local potential.

“Through the OVOC program, we hope that more international students will gain experience and insights into developing flagship commodities in their respective home regions. This program serves not only as a platform for academic learning but also as a space for cross border collaboration in building community based economies rooted in local potential,” he said.

He noted that IPB University offers business incubator and living lab programs as part of its efforts to strengthen the student entrepreneurship ecosystem. These programs are designed to cultivate future CEOs who are resilient, innovative, and globally competitive. 

“We deeply appreciate the opportunity IPB University has provided our students to study the implementation of OVOC in Indonesia. We hope this experience will inspire the development of local products in Thailand, thereby driving economic growth in local communities,” said Asst Prof Pongsak Thongnuekhaeng, Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at Songkhla Rajabhat University.

Through this collaboration, one student from Songkhla Rajabhat University will participate in OVOC International 2026 and learn firsthand about business ecosystem development in various regions supported by IPB University. The presence of this international student is expected to further strengthen the academic ties between the two institutions while opening up broader opportunities for collaboration in the future.

As part of efforts to strengthen cooperation, the OVOC delegation also showcased the diversity of Indonesian coffee through a coffee cupping experience. Various premium coffees developed by OVOC were introduced to faculty and students at Songkhla Rajabhat University, ranging from Flores Full-Washed Arabica, Garut Natural Anaerobic Arabica, Garut Natural Classic Arabica, Garut Robusta, Pagar Alam Arabica, to West Lampung Robusta.

“We are also opening up broader opportunities for collaboration with Songkhla Rajabhat University, particularly in coffee product development and food innovation,” said Prof Rokhani.

The OVOC delegation also expanded their knowledge of the agroindustry through visits to the Sook Siam Amazing Thai Fruit Paradise 2026 festival, Simummuang Market, and Agritechnica Asia & HortEx 2026. These activities provided insights into premium fruit marketing strategies, modern horticultural market management, downstream processing of fruit based products, and global agricultural technology developments.

“This trip provided us with a new experience to see how Indonesia’s fruit potential can be developed into products with higher added value, innovation, and the ability to compete in the global market,” said Dian Rahmah Fitri, one of the delegation members.

Through this activity, the OVOC IPB University team hopes to bring back various inspirations and best practices from Thailand to support the sustainable development of the agricultural sector, agroindustry, and community empowerment in Indonesia. (*/Rz) (IAAS/KQA)