Bappenas urges universities to expand involvement in SDGs

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister for National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN/Bappenas) Rachmat Pambudy is encouraging the expansion of university involvement in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through educational activities, research, and community service.

“This is a joint task between the government and academia. With academic freedom and freedom of thought in the campus environment, we hope that various ideas and innovations will emerge that can serve as a compass for the direction of national development,” he said during a meeting with the Rector of Semarang State University (Unnes) S Martono and its academic community, as quoted from an official statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

On that occasion, his side discussed the potential for cooperation between the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas and Unnes in supporting national development, particularly through strengthening the contribution of universities to the sustainable development agenda.

Minister Rachmat emphasised the importance of the role of universities in supporting the achievement of SDGs, given that Bappenas is the SDG Implementation Coordinator in Indonesia.

Through this meeting, his side hopes that cooperation with Unnes can continue to be developed, particularly in strengthening research, innovation, and policy development that supports the achievement of sustainable development in Indonesia.

Unnes, as a conservation university, is seen to have great potential in supporting the sustainable development agenda through various natural resource management strategies, strengthening values, arts, and culture, as well as interdisciplinary research development.

The contribution of universities is also relevant to the direction of national development in the 2025-2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), which places food security as one of the development focuses. Strengthening food security is carried out through the Food, Energy, Water Nexus approach to ensure sustainable and resilient food needs fulfilment.

In addition, the Head of Bappenas also encouraged the development of SDG-based entrepreneurship to strengthen the role of the business world in national development.

“The stronger the entrepreneurship of a country, the greater the country’s ability to mobilise resources and drive progress,” said the Minister of PPN.