Ikopin Urged to Increase Practical Training to Prepare Human Resources for KDKMP

This opportunity must be seized. The demand for labour in rural areas is immense alongside the development of KDKMP. Ikopin must serve as a provider of cadres ready to meet these needs.

he Cooperative Education Foundation (YPK) is encouraging the Indonesian Cooperative University (Ikoplar) to increase direct practical training to prepare the human resources required for the development of the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP).

The Chairman of the YPK Board of Trustees, Emil Arifin, stated in a press release from the Ministry of Cooperatives in Jakarta on Wednesday, that the need for human resources capable of managing cooperatives is growing alongside the expansion of KDKMP across various regions.

“This opportunity must be filled. The demand for manpower in rural areas alongside the development of KDKMP is very large. Ikopin must be the provider of cadres ready to answer that need,” said Emil during the Ikopin Performance Evaluation Coordination Meeting in Jatinangor, West Java, on Wednesday.

According to him, the improvement of Ikopin needs to be directed so that the educational process does not stop at theoretical mastery, but also provides practical experience that aligns with the needs of cooperatives and local communities.

Emil stated that Ikopin also needs to develop research and technology that can be directly applied to address needs at the village level.

“Ikopin must be an institution that produces superior seeds—seeds of human resources—and conducts research to develop technology that can be immediately implemented in the regions,” he added.

He cited the development of economic activities such as food crop cultivation, poultry farming, and value-added commodities like silkworms, which can be developed by adjusting to the specific needs and potential of each village.

Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono stated that the transformation of Ikopin must be capable of producing modern, professional, and independent cooperative cadres that are relevant to current cooperative needs.

“Ikopin is also expected to produce research and innovation that addresses the real needs of cooperatives, including in the development of the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP),” he added.

Ferry mentioned several aspects that need improvement, including operational efficiency, study programmes, increasing the quality and quantity of students, diversifying revenue sources, and utilising information technology.

On the other hand, the Vice Chairman of the YPK Board of Trustees, Burhanuddin Abdullah, emphasised that the reform of Ikopin cannot be achieved through administrative improvements or cost efficiency alone, but must encompass organisation, governance, human resources, work systems, marketing, and institutional modernisation.