Minister Tito Reveals IPDN Graduates in High Demand by Regional Heads
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has said that graduates of the Institute of Domestic Governance (IPDN) are in high demand by regional heads, with many requesting them to serve in their home regions. “IPDN graduates are highly sought after because they do not only study academics, governance, or other sciences. Over four years, they are also rigorously trained in physical fitness, mental resilience, ideology, nationalism, integrity, militancy, and discipline,” Tito said during the IPDN 2025/2026 graduation ceremony in Jatinangor, Sumedang, on Sunday (26/7/2026).
Nevertheless, he stressed his hope that IPDN graduates would become civil servants (ASN) for Indonesia, not just for specific regions. “We will see whether we can fulfil these requests or not. Because we want these young people to not necessarily return to their home regions, but to learn by seeing other regions in Indonesia. So they rotate and become ASN for Indonesia, not just ASN for their own villages,” Tito asserted.
A total of 1,404 graduates were celebrated at the ceremony, comprising 45 from the Doctoral Programme in Government Science, 73 from the Applied Master’s Programme in Government Science, 1,204 from the Applied Bachelor’s Programme in Government Science, and 82 from the Professional Education Programme for Pamong Praja. Tito explained that with this graduation, the students have completed their studies and are now awaiting their official inauguration by the President. The inauguration is planned to take place either at the State Palace or the IPDN Campus. Following the inauguration, the graduates will be deployed to various regions to strengthen local government capacity and support public services across Indonesia.
IPDN, which is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, is considered successful in producing scholars in the field of governance through a lengthy teaching and learning process. This graduation moment marks the transition of master’s and doctoral students, as well as praja, into scientists. “This is also a happy moment for the country, because thinkers in the field of government science have been born at various levels, S1, S2, and S3,” Tito explained. He noted that a profession must meet several criteria, including having a recognised scientific discipline, being pursued through adequate education, having a code of ethics, and being oriented towards community service. Therefore, government science is a key foundation for state apparatus in carrying out their duties.
He emphasised that mastery of science distinguishes policy-making based on scientific study from that which relies solely on intuition. For this reason, IPDN graduates are equipped with scientific thinking skills to formulate public policy based on theory, data, and appropriate methodology. “But I must remind you, especially those with master’s and doctoral degrees. The difference between a bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree is the mindset, the ability to change the way of thinking to a more complex scientific way of thinking,” he said.
He also reminded the graduates that the ceremony is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of their service as state civil apparatus (ASN) who will bear great responsibility in serving the community. “By becoming a graduate, and God willing, soon to be inaugurated as a Candidate for Civil Servant, you will start a new life, a life in the government bureaucracy,” Tito said. He expressed hope that all IPDN graduates would dedicate the knowledge gained during their education to strengthening Indonesia’s government bureaucracy and stressed the importance of maintaining integrity until the end of their service.