Central Java Provincial Government Enlists 123 Universities to Tackle Poverty
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data show that Central Java’s poverty rate fell to 9.21% in March 2026, from 9.48% in March 2025. The number of people living in poverty also declined by 81,250, from 3.37 million to 3.29 million.
The Central Java Provincial Government has taken various steps to reduce poverty, including involving universities. Of the 123 universities that have formed partnerships, 49 joined in 2025 and 74 in 2026.
The collaboration covers thematic community service programmes (KKN), business mentoring, surveys of uninhabitable homes, stunting prevention and the development of water desalination technology.
“University involvement is important to improve the targeting of programmes. Tackling poverty requires more than social assistance or home improvements; it must also address health, education and household economic issues,” Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi said in a written statement on Thursday (15 October 2026).
Luthfi made the remarks while attending the National Coordination Meeting of the Higher Education Forum for Community Empowerment at the Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW) hall in Salatiga on Thursday (15 October).
Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar said the government was continuing to shift its approach from social assistance towards empowerment, so that people could achieve economic self-reliance.
“The more successful empowerment is, the fewer people will receive social assistance. That means state funds can be used elsewhere,” Muhaimin said.
He said the empowerment strategy focused on education, access to capital and land, and strengthening the economic ecosystem. Nationwide, more than 16,500 villages in 88 regencies have been prioritised for poverty alleviation.
The meeting also saw the declaration of universities’ commitment to a 2027 scholarship programme for village community empowerment cadres. The collaboration includes UKSW, Udinus, Unissula and Nusa Cendana University.
In a report on the meeting, university rectors said they planned to provide around 2,000 scholarships for community empowerment cadres or village residents’ children to pursue higher education.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Fauzan said he hoped the partnership would make the best use of universities’ resources to address community problems in a measurable, data-driven way.
“Universities should not simply remain in ivory towers; they should be involved in resolving local problems through community empowerment,” he said.