2025 Village Governance School at IPB University Officially Opened, 210 Officials Ready to Realize Precision Villages
IPB University has officially opened the 2025 Village Governance School (SPD) for Bogor Regency on Thursday (8/7). This fifth SPD cohort is attended by 210 participants from 70 villages, consisting of village heads, social operators, and spatial operators.
The Vice Rector of IPB University for Education and Student Affairs, Prof Deni Noviana, in his opening remarks, conveyed a message to the participants to become the driving force for change in their respective villages. He also emphasized IPB University’s commitment to producing SPD graduates who are ready to become agents of change in their villages.
“So, use the knowledge and skills acquired during your education at IPB University to improve village services to be better, fairer, and more prosperous,” he said during the opening at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM), IPB Dramaga Campus, Bogor.
On this occasion, Prof Sofyan Sjaf, Dean of the Faculty of Human Ecology (Fema) at IPB University, explained that the background for the establishment of SPD was inspired by China’s success in eradicating poverty. According to him, there are two key factors applied by the Chinese government.
“First, how they conduct precise and accurate data collection on the existing conditions of their communities and available resources. Second, how they map out the economic institutions present in society while addressing human resource issues,” he explained.
Prof Sofyan added that the idea for SPD emerged during discussions with the Bogor Regency Government in 2021. At that time, the program started with 120 officials from 40 villages in the first cohort and has continued to develop ever since.
“Alhamdulillah, the numbers keep increasing. In total, 290 villages have now completed the program. So, we now have 870 village officials who have graduated from the Village Governance School,” he explained.
The Chairman of the Community and Village Empowerment Agency of Bogor Regency, Renaldi Yushab Fiansyah, added, “Through SPD, we can build a sustainable village learning ecosystem, not stopping at just training, but moving towards real implementation, one of which is through the Precision Village Data program.”
“I place great hope in all the village heads, social operators, and spatial operators to wholeheartedly participate in all aspects of this learning process, as a form of commitment to shaping a better future for our villages,” he concluded.
The event also featured a panel discussion with two national speakers, which are the Vice Minister of Cooperatives of Indonesia, Ferry Juliantono, and the Vice Chair of the National Agency for the Acceleration of Poverty Alleviation (BPTASKIN) of Indonesia, Nanik S. Dayang. (dr) (IAAS/KMR)
