IPB University Supports Child Development in Five Communities Surrounding the Campus Through the Family Quality School Program
The Family Quality School (SKB) of IPB University has returned to support child growth and development by strengthening family capacity in five communities surrounding the campus, namely Cikarawang Village, Dramaga Village, Ciherang Village, Semplak Subdistrict, and Curug Mekar Subdistrict.
This commitment was marked by a focus group discussion (FGD) and the signing of a joint commitment letter by village heads and subdistrict leaders at the Agribusiness and Technology Park (ATP) of IPB University, Bogor.
The Family Quality School Program is an initiative of the Institute for Agromaritime Development and Innopreneurship Acceleration (LPAI) in collaboration with the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (IKK) of IPB University. The program aims to equip communities with knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to the concept of a quality, prosperous, and productive family.
In addition, the program is designed to develop facilitators capable of supporting family learning and empowerment processes at the village and subdistrict levels.
Dr Iqbal Irfany, Assistant for Techno-sociopreneurship at LPAI IPB University, officially opened the series of SKB 2026 activities. He emphasized that the program is part of IPB University’s commitment to community service.
“IPB is here to share knowledge in realizing quality families through the Family Quality School program,” he said.
According to him, family development is a crucial foundation for creating a resilient and competitive society. Therefore, strengthening facilitator capacity is a strategic step toward producing agents of change and expanding the program’s impact at the community level.
During the perception alignment session, Dr Tin Herawati, Chairperson of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, explained the importance of building quality and productive families as a key foundation for social development toward Golden Indonesia. She emphasized that families play a central role in shaping healthy, resilient, and well rounded human resources capable of facing various life challenges.
“Why focus on families? Good families will raise good children. Good children will become high quality human resources in every village. The family is the primary institution for educating children,” she explained on Thursday (6/4).
In the following session, Ulty Midayati, an SKB 2025 facilitator, shared her experiences assisting families in the field. She recounted one of her most memorable experiences while providing education on nutrition and child development to pregnant women. According to her, a communicative approach that is closely connected to participants’ daily lives is key to effective learning.
“I clearly remember a pregnant woman who was craving seblak. From there, we discussed how food consumed during pregnancy can affect fetal health. Therefore, we encouraged them to make wiser food choices and reduce the consumption of less healthy foods to support optimal child development,” she said.
Various suggestions and recommendations gathered during the FGD will be used to develop an SKB implementation model that is more adaptive to community needs.
For 2026, SKB registration remains open until 21 June 2026 and has already attracted 339 applicants. IPB University hopes that the program will strengthen facilitators’ capacity to support Indonesian families in building quality, independent, and productive households. (*/Rz) (IAAS/KAL)
