Expert: Scientific Research Key to Targeted Transmigration Development
Target regions must be involved, so there is public participation. If obstacles arise, whether resistance from local communities, infrastructure problems, or other factors, these can be addressed.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Public policy expert Trubus Rahadiansyah believes that involving academics in the development of transmigration areas through scientific research will produce better-targeted policies.
“So far, many policies have not been formulated based on research results. Yet policies should be grounded in data and scientific studies,” Trubus told ANTARA in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The academic from Trisakti University said that a research-based approach and real-world studies should indeed be applied by all ministries and agencies when formulating public policy, so that decisions taken are not spontaneous and lacking a solid academic foundation.
Nevertheless, he cautioned that research results must not stop at being mere reports. The government needs to establish a dedicated work unit or team tasked with overseeing the implementation of research findings, from monitoring and execution to programme evaluation.
Trubus said such oversight should involve various stakeholders, including regional governments, academics, communities, civil society organisations, and residents of transmigration areas.
Community involvement is considered important so that the potential of a region and any emerging obstacles can be identified from the outset.
“Target regions must be involved, so there is public participation. If obstacles arise, whether resistance from local communities, infrastructure problems, or other factors, these can be addressed,” he said.
He added that synergy between the central and regional governments is an important factor in boosting the productivity of transmigration areas while also attracting investment.
Beyond participatory research, research findings should also be open, through public consultation and dialogue, because they involve factual analysis and medium- to long-term planning scenarios for area development that affect the community.
He also said that scientific academic studies need to be translated into language that is easier for the public to understand and used as the basis for formulating government programmes.
“Research results must be converted into policy language and programme language so they can be easily implemented,” he said.
Regarding indicators of programme success, he believes success can be measured by minimal community resistance to transmigration programmes, increased economic activity in transmigration areas, and strong support from regional governments through the provision of infrastructure, human resources, and assistance to transmigrant communities.
He affirmed that collaboration between the central government, regional governments, academics, and local communities is key to ensuring that research findings can truly be applied as policies with a real impact on the development of transmigration areas.
The Ministry of Transmigration is carrying out the Patriot Transmigrasi Programme initiative to transform the transmigration paradigm from mere population relocation into autonomous regional development based on research, technology, and local economic empowerment.
The programme includes dispatching young experts and providing higher education pathways for agents of change.