125 Students Deployed to Eastern Indonesia Transmigration Areas in Patriot Expedition
Makassar (ANTARA) — Hasanuddin University (Unhas), as the administering higher education institution, has released the 2026 Patriot Expedition Team (TEP), comprising 125 participants from various universities, to serve in a number of strategic transmigration areas in Eastern Indonesia (KTI).
The Patriot Expedition Team programme forms part of the Patriot Transmigration Programme initiated by the Ministry of Transmigration, serving as a model for collaboration between government, universities and communities to strengthen regional development.
Speaking on behalf of the Unhas Patriot Expedition Management Team, drg Nursyamsi said in Makassar on Thursday that the Patriots would serve in several strategic transmigration areas in Eastern Indonesia, including Weri-Saharey in Fakfak Regency, West Papua, Muna, Kolaka, Konawe, East Luwu and Sidenreng Rappang (Sidrap).
The entire programme is scheduled to run until December 2026 as part of efforts to provide sustained assistance tailored to the characteristics of each region.
Regarding the recruitment process, he said it began in early June 2026 and received an enthusiastic response, with 1,182 applicants comprising 842 participants from various partner universities and 340 from Unhas.
Following the selection process, 803 participants undertook self-assessment and online interviews in two waves, before 125 participants were finally appointed as the 2026 Transmigration Patriots.
According to Nursyamsi, the selection process measured not only academic competence but also the ability to work in teams, facilitate communities, and implement programmes according to the needs of the assigned regions.
As one of the deployment destinations, the Acting Head of the Manpower and Transmigration Office of Fakfak Regency, Lud Masrur Kamudi, affirmed his readiness to welcome the participants and support all activities to be carried out during their period of service.
The regional government hopes the team’s presence can strengthen efforts to identify and develop local potential, thereby driving sustained improvements in the quality of transmigration areas over time.
“We are committed to continuously overseeing the implementation of the Patriot Transmigration Programme while the participants are in the field,” he said.
All preparations have been completed. “We await the arrival of the Patriot Expedition Team from Makassar to begin collaborating on developing the potential of transmigration areas and delivering benefits that communities can directly feel,” he said.