IPB University Relaunches the 2026 Dosen Pulang Kampung Program to Accelerate Innovation in Rural Communities
IPB University has relaunched the Homecoming Lecture Program (Dosen Pulang Kampung) program in 2026 as a concrete step to bridge the gap between campus innovation and the needs of rural communities. This program serves as a platform for faculty members to serve in locations with which they share historical and sociological ties.
During the online information session for the 2026 “Dosen Pulang Kampung” program (3/13), IPB University Rector Dr Alim Setiawan Slamet emphasized the importance of the university’s role as a source of solutions to social issues. He stressed that higher education institutions must remain as close as possible to the realities of community life so that the knowledge developed does not merely become a pile of theories.
“This principle has always been the foundation of every step we take in fulfilling the three pillars of higher education, particularly the pillar related to community service. It is within this context that the Dosen Pulang Kampung program holds significant and strategic importance,” said Dr Alim.
Philosophically, Dr Alim described science, technology, and innovation as seeds that require the right growing medium. “High quality seeds will certainly not yield benefits if they are merely stored, for example, in a warehouse. Good seeds must be planted, nurtured, and allowed to grow in real soil.”
“I liken our villages and hometowns to soil. Science and innovation thrive in villages and benefit the community,” said Dr Alim.
The rector hopes that the return of faculty members to their hometowns will bring about significant social transformation through their networks and knowledge. “Therefore, this is not just ordinary community service, it can lead to very significant social transformation in the villages,” he added.
Dr Handian Purwawangsa, Chairman of the Institute for Agromaritime Development and Innopreneurship Acceleration (LP2AI), reported that this year’s Dosen Pulang Kampung program is managed by LP2AI, a new institution formed by the integration of the Institute for Science and Technology Zones (LKST) with the Directorate of Agromaritime Community Development (DPMA) which aims to accelerate the commercialization of faculty members’ research.
Dr Handian explained that the primary focus of the service program is on knowledge dissemination, technology application, and the commercialization of innovations across various regions of Indonesia.
Regarding the technical implementation, Dr Handian stated that his team is committed to minimizing administrative burdens so that participants can focus more on the essence of their service. He also provided specific guidance to the faculty members to use the Eid al-Fitr homecoming period as an opportunity to seek ideas and partners. “During this homecoming, we hope the faculty members can seek ideas and also find partners. So, by the time they return from their homecoming, their proposals will already be complete,” said Dr Handian.
The 2026 Dosen Pulang Kampung Program aims to involve 440 faculty members, divided into 110 groups, who will be deployed to 110 villages across Indonesia. Registration for the program is open from March 14 to April 2, 2026, with the goal of completing the entire series of activities by the end of December 2026. Through this program, IPB University is committed to continuing to deliver its best work for the nation’s progress and the economic resilience of communities based on innovation. (MHT) (IAAS/DAM)
