Wanting to Improve Village Data in North Maluku, Governor Sherly Tjoanda Collaborates with IPB University
IPB University has established cooperation with the Provincial Government of North Maluku. Governor Sherly Tjoanda was present in person to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Rector of IPB University, Dr Alim Setiawan Slamet, at the Dramaga Campus (12/23).
Governor Sherly revealed that up to now, various social assistance and education funding programs from the central government have often been mistargeted due to inaccurate data. As a result, poverty and welfare indicators have been difficult to reduce significantly.
She then received a recommendation from one of the ministers stating that IPB University has Precise Village Data, initiated by Prof Sofyan Sjaf. Therefore, the Provincial Government of North Maluku considers it important to improve village data as the basis for distributing assistance and planning development.
Sherly described the condition of North Maluku, which still faces the challenge of equitable development. Economic growth has only reached 3,9 percent, educational participation rate is 61 percent, poverty is at 4,8 percent, and unemployment is at 6 percent. According to her, these various indicators cannot be addressed optimally due to the lack of accurate data.
Through this MoU, IPB University and the Provincial Government of North Maluku agreed to build real collaboration through the implementation of the three pillars of higher education according to regional needs. Governor Sherly also expressed openness to student community service programs, research, as well as Regional Delegate Scholarships for the youth of North Maluku.
She emphasized that North Maluku, as the world’s largest nickel downstream industry region, is a strategic research laboratory. “I hope the results of this MoU will produce concrete programs that are truly useful for the people of North Maluku,” she stressed.
The Rector of IPB University, Dr Alim Setiawan Slamet, welcomed the initiative of the Governor of North Maluku to develop Precise Village Data together with IPB. He emphasized IPB University’s commitment to community service through innovation-based fostered villages.
“The concept of Precise Village Data from IPB University has now been implemented in 16 provinces as well as 36 cities and regencies,” he said.
Dr Alim also emphasized that IPB University has a long track record of cooperation with North Maluku, including in plantation and fisheries downstream programs and cooperation with the Ministry of Transmigration.
“We are interested in ensuring that IPB innovations can be directly adopted by the community. Through Precise Village Data, we hope to genuinely support the success of the Governor of North Maluku’s programs,” he concluded. (dh) (IAAS/KMR)
