Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Urges Universities to Contribute to Village Self-Sufficiency

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, is encouraging higher education institutions to strengthen the application of research to address real problems in society, particularly in supporting village self-sufficiency.

In a statement in Jakarta on Sunday, Minister Yuliarto noted that mentored villages can serve as spaces for universities to conduct research while implementing innovative solutions tailored to community needs. He emphasised that the community must be positioned as an integral part of the empowerment process to ensure that programmes do not merely end with the completion of activities.

“Research should not stop in the classroom, nor should it be limited to laboratories or scientific journal papers. Beyond that, it is about what can be developed and what problems can be solved within the surrounding community,” said the Minister.

The Minister also stressed the importance of strengthening community capacity to operate and maintain implemented technologies. Training and certification for village youth could be part of the effort to build local capabilities, ensuring that applied technologies can be utilised sustainably.

“We must empower these villages together,” said Brian Yuliately.

He emphasised that villages and sub-districts will serve as the backbone of the people’s economy. President Prabowo has set a target for 30,000 Red and White Village and Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP) to be operating optimally by the end of 2026.

“Our target is 30,000 cooperatives operating optimally by the end of 2026. This is the target,” stated President Prabowo.