IPB University Renames Faculty of Human Ecology and Launches New Degree Programmes

IPB University has renamed its Faculty of Human Ecology (FEMA) to the Faculty of Social Sciences and Human Ecology (FISEMA). The name change is part of an institutional and academic transformation in line with the academic architecture established by the academic senate.

Dean of FISEMA IPB University Sofyan Sjaf stated that the change is not merely a name modification, but part of a more adaptive and relevant academic reorganisation. “The faculty must naturally adjust itself to the academic architecture that has been established,” he said, as reported by IPB University’s website on Sunday, 24 May 2026.

Previously, Sofyan explained, the faculty oversaw only two undergraduate programmes: Communication and Community Development (KPM) and Family and Consumer Science. It also offered three master’s level (S2) programmes: Family Science and Child Development, Agricultural and Rural Development Communication, and Rural Sociology. At the doctoral (S3) level, the faculty offered three programmes: Family Science, Agricultural and Rural Development Communication, and Rural Sociology.

With the addition of social sciences to the faculty’s name, IPB is launching several new degree programmes from this field. This year, for instance, two new undergraduate programmes will be introduced: Sociology and Human Geography.

According to the roadmap through 2031, FISEMA plans to launch additional programmes including Consumer Science, Family Science and Child Development, Psychology, Political Science, International Relations, Anthropology, Law, and Public Policy.

Sofyan stated that the new programmes will align with curriculum changes, including for existing programmes. He noted that the social sciences cluster at IPB University will differ from that at other higher education institutions. IPB will develop a distinctive social sciences approach with a focus on agromaritim communities.

“The focus remains on agromaritim communities, highland populations, lowland populations, and coastal communities. These become our primary areas of analysis,” Sofyan said.

He added that in research, FISEMA is pursuing a major agenda for rural transformation. This includes a research partnership with China Agricultural University (CAU) to develop methodologies and establish the Precision Village Data (PVD) database.

Sofyan noted that PVD has attracted interest from various regions, including Maluku and Papua. “The Legislative Body of the Indonesian Parliament is currently considering its adoption as part of the One Data Indonesia methodology,” he said.