Strengthening Partnerships, IPB University Invites sub-District Head and Village Chiefs Around Campus
IPB University is committed to hold its partnerships with the people in 17 villages around campus. For that, at the start of 2020, IPB University’s rector, Prof Dr Arif Satria invites sub-district heads and village heads around IPB Dramaga campus, Bogor. They were welcomed by the rector accompanied by the head of Lembaga Penelitian kepada Masyarakat (LPPM), head and staff of Communication Bureau in the Rector’s Assembly Room, IPB Dramaga Bogor campus last week.
Based on the proposal of a village head, the rector is planning to create a pilot project “Satu Desa Satu Produk”. Each village is hoped to have their own high quality unique product in agriculture like crystal guavas, sweet potatoes, cassava and others. “IPB University has tons of consumers, be it students or lecturers. This will help in developing market shares on agriculture products and its derivatives. For that, I will direct every faculty and school in IPB University to have one guided village to undergo this program,” he says
He thinks, IPB University as an institution of higher education must be able to benefit villages and communities around it. Guidance, observation and community empowerment is not as easy as turning the palm of your hand. For that there must be partnerships between both sides to support the cultivation of potentials of each village. In this opportunity, Prof Arif Satria also expresses that IPB University has Tani Center. Tani Center is IPB University’s platform and technological gateway to fulfill the needs of farmers.
“The existence of Tani Center needs to be utilized by farmers, especially ones around campus. In Tani Center, farmers can browse innovations developed by IPB University. We aren’t claiming that everything comes from higher education institutions, but this is our effort to connect IPB University with all farmers of Indonesia to share knowledge. We’re hoping there are farmers around campus who can visit and learn in Tani Center, in hopes that the dream of independent farmers and emphasize the role of scholars in interacting and knowledge sharing to farmers directly,” he adds.
Prof Arif also opens the chance for the villagers around IPB to continue their search for knowledge in IPB University. IPB University will give sporting facilities such as free football field. “As long as the schedule matches with student activities. In the end we want to support positive and good village and community activities,” he exclaims. Meanwhile the head of Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (LPPM) IPB University, Dr Aji Hermawan delivers that LPPM has carried out Dosen Mengabdi programs in villages and communities around campus. Such activities are based around the people, hence the lecturers are helped Stasiun Lapang Agrokreatif (SLAK) facilitators, to truly bring innovations applicable in society.
“LPPM IPB University is committed in continuing these community service activities to direct society to a better place. LPPM IPB University is also continuously evaluating and finding new forms to upgrade this program in the future,” says Dr Aji. (IAAS/RCD)
