Deputy Minister urges university consortium to alleviate poverty in NTT
Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek) Prof. Dr. Fauzan has urged higher education institutions in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to form a consortium to strengthen research and community service.
“Campuses must feel ‘sinful’ if their surrounding environment is still plagued by poverty. Therefore, universities in NTT must establish a higher education consortium,” he said in Kupang on Friday.
He made the statement during a working visit to Kupang to attend a Coordination Meeting on Poverty Alleviation and the Launch of the Garuda Programme.
According to him, higher education institutions, particularly major regional campuses, should not only focus on inter-institutional competition but must build collaboration through the formation of a university consortium.
He said the consortium is expected to produce appropriate innovations and technology in the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors to increase community productivity while supporting poverty alleviation.
“Major regional universities must feel guilty and sinful if their surrounding environment is still besieged by poverty, unemployment, and low university participation rates. The paradigm of working alone and competing must be changed to collaboration,” Fauzan said.
He stressed that campuses must not operate in isolation from the community, as their existence should provide tangible benefits in solving various regional problems.
Fauzan explained that poverty is not only related to economic issues but also involves cultural aspects, mindsets, and the quality of human resources, which are the responsibility of the education sector.
To strengthen the role of higher education, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology will encourage the synchronisation of research funding through a co-funding scheme between the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) at universities and the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP).
Meanwhile, Nusa Cendana University Rector Prof. Jefri S. Bale stated that Undana is ready to be a strategic partner for the government in supporting inclusive development that benefits the community.
“The presence of the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology provides new energy for us to continue strengthening the role of higher education in realising development that is inclusive, equitable, and has a real impact on society,” he said.