Bappenas wants universities to develop distinctive centres of excellence

Jakarta (ANTARA) – National Development Planning Minister and Head of Bappenas Rachmat Pambudy has called for universities to develop distinctive centres of excellence with specific added value based on regional and institutional potentials. “This effort is crucial to strengthen universities’ contribution to national development transformation,” he said during a meeting with Universitas Mataram Rector Sukardi, according to an official statement in Jakarta on Saturday. The meeting discussed strengthening universities’ role as strategic partners in national development, which aligns with Presidential Regulation No. 12 of 2025 on the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025-2029. Minister Rachmat Pambudy stressed the importance of universities producing high-quality human resources tailored to development needs. “We want universities to serve as strategic partners for Bappenas in generating innovation, strengthening capacity development, and improving community learning quality,” he added. As a leading higher education institution in Eastern Indonesia, Universitas Mataram is strategically positioned as a hub for regional knowledge and innovation development, a partner for central and regional governments, and a bridge between community needs, government, and academia. One innovation developed by Universitas Mataram is lamtoro-based cattle feed, made from Leucaena leucocephala plants. This was developed as an alternative to reduce reliance on conventional feeds such as straw and grass. The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration between government, universities, businesses, and society to support knowledge- and innovation-driven national development. Close collaboration is expected to ensure research and community service outcomes are implemented practically to address regional and national development challenges and strengthen Indonesia’s future competitiveness.