IPB to develop assets

BOGOR: The Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) plans to develop 17 of its assets, mostly former campuses, in an effort to finance the education budget, which this year amounts to some Rp 450 billion.

IPB rector Ahmad Ansori Mattjik said on Monday the institute would generate money from the development of the assets so that it would not burden students too much. The cost of educating a student was some Rp 18 million per year, he said.

He added IPB had set up a team that would be tasked to take a close look at the 17 assets, located outside the main campus at Darmaga, Bogor.

He said that three former IPB campuses, at Baranangsiang, Taman Kencana and Gunung Gede had potential to make money.

According to Ahmad, the former Taman Kencana campus would be used to build a luxury hospital, while Baranangsiang campus would be used for a special program for business executives, and other commercial activities like a convention center and an agribusiness center.

IPB also plans to build a shopping mall, guest house and other commercial developments. --JP