Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology: Universities May Establish Nutrition Service Units as Practical Facilities

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, has stated that higher education institutions may establish Nutrition Service Units (SPPG) to serve as teaching factories or direct practical facilities for students. During a working meeting with Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Tuesday, the Minister noted that the existence of SPPG is integrated with the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG), where universities are expected to play a strategic role through research and community service.

“There are several universities creating SPPGs as part of a teaching factory, for student practice, and for research purposes; we permit these universities to do so,” said Minister Brian Yuliarto. He assessed that university participation in the national nutrition ecosystem is comparable to the support provided by higher education research for programmes such as electric vehicles, semiconductors, and the giant sea wall.

Although universities are permitted to establish SPPGs, Minister Brian emphasised that this is not a compulsion or an administrative obligation imposed on university rectorates. The Minister also stated that his ministry encourages universities to focus on long-term research that can oversee the success of the Free Nutritious Meal Programme from a public health perspective.

“What we are encouraging is how to conduct research, for example, to check on stunting rates. I have seen papers from India showing that the MBG programme successfully improved nutrition and reduced stunting. This requires long-term focus, which might not be the primary thought of those operating the SPPGs,” added Minister Brian Yuliarto.