Deputy Home Affairs Minister Urges IPDN Alumni to Prepare as Future Leaders
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) Bima Arya Sugiarto has urged praja and graduates of the Institute of Public Administration (IPDN) to continuously improve their capacity, competence, and leadership quality as preparation for future opportunities to become regional heads. He stated that the extensive experience praja gain in carrying out governmental duties from the lowest level is a valuable asset not possessed by many other professions. “So when talking about leadership track records, it is IPDN alumni who are truly ready, and perhaps the most ready,” he said during a Public Lecture by the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development at the Balairung Rudini, IPDN Jatinangor Campus, Sumedang Regency, West Java, on Thursday (18/6).
Bima explained that pamong praja education has produced tens of thousands of apparatus who have dedicated themselves across various regions in Indonesia, from the APDN and STPDN eras through to its transformation into IPDN. They are currently spread across various strategic government positions. From that number, several have also been elected as governors, regents, and mayors. According to him, these achievements are born from a long process of dedication and bureaucratic experience pursued in stages through various field assignments.
Bima assessed that the tour of duty experience, starting from lurah, camat, head of department, to regional secretary, provides a comprehensive understanding of governance, public services, and community needs. Therefore, IPDN graduates are considered to have a strong leadership foundation to lead regions. Furthermore, Bima also reminded that future regional heads will face increasingly complex challenges. Besides having to respond to fast-moving global geopolitical dynamics, they are also required to implement national strategic programmes while meeting public expectations through the realisation of regional development promises. “So, once again, IPDN alumni should have the capacity to navigate amidst these three difficult challenges,” he stressed.
Additionally, Bima expressed his great hope that IPDN praja will always nurture the spirit of dedication, Bhinneka Nara Eka Bhakti, and steadfastly uphold the idealism built on campus until their retirement. “If that happens, Mr Coordinating Minister, God willing, all these younger siblings will be ready to welcome 2045,” he concluded. The event was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, Deputy I of the Coordinating Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development Nazib Faizal, expert staff and expert advisors of the ministry, and IPDN Rector Halilul Khairi along with the academic community.