Patriot Expedition Team Programme Advances Transmigration Zone Transformation
The Ministry of Transmigration has confirmed that the Patriot Transmigration Programme constitutes part of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, encompassing education, research, and community service. The Patriot Expedition Team Programme represents a strategic initiative and forms an important component of efforts to strengthen transmigration zone development in a targeted and sustainable manner.
“I invite all universities to collaborate in supporting transmigration zone development,” said Transmigration Minister M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagsra during a coordination meeting with partner universities on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
The meeting addressed the continuation of the Patriot Expedition Team Programme for the current year. “We will discuss the outputs from the expedition, which has generated approximately 400 outputs. The expectation is that these outputs can be followed up with concrete action, from the planning phase through to concrete field implementation,” he stated.
The Minister explained that expedition results form the basis for determining the feasibility of a transmigration zone, including revitalisation and transformation steps based on industrialisation. Zones with industrial-scale economic potential will be directed towards becoming centres for developing flagship commodities with export value.
Currently, the Ministry of Transmigration manages approximately 3.1 million hectares of Land Management Rights (HPL), with around 500,000 hectares still available and possessing significant economic potential if managed optimally. “Transmigration zones can become sources of new economic growth if properly designed, including through industrial development, investment, and distribution connectivity,” he noted.
The Patriot Expedition Team will be conducted again in 154 priority transmigration zones in 2026. The focus is on accelerating the development of zone economic ecosystems, including educational facilities, healthcare, places of worship, and community economic infrastructure.
Beyond physical development, the programme also emphasises strengthening community capacity and awareness through the involvement of students, academics, and expert personnel. “The presence of students, academics, and expert personnel in transmigration zones is expected to strengthen community awareness development and accelerate zone advancement,” said Minister Iftitah.
Several partner universities expressed their commitment to continuing and strengthening the Patriot Expedition Programme in 2026. Executive Director of the Multi-Campus Initiative at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Prof. Sri Maryati, stated that the 2026 programme represents a continuation of previous activities, focusing on following up on results already obtained.
“The planned programme aligns with 2025 activities. Results from 2025 activities require follow-up, particularly those with significant impact. The data collected represents important findings that can enrich the Ministry of Transmigration’s database, but standardisation must be conducted for optimal utilisation,” she said.
The Director of Student Affairs at Padjadjaran University (UNPAD), Inu Isnaeni Sidiq, affirmed universities’ readiness to contribute directly to transmigration zone development.
“The 2026 expedition programme is expected to represent a direct continuation of 2025 results. The university is ready to contribute through concrete action, zone development programmes, and investment studies of transmigration zones,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Airlangga University (UNAIR), newly joining in 2026, expressed readiness to continue studies and initiate research at new locations. “Since UNAIR is only joining the Patriot Expedition Team Programme in 2026, we will first conduct studies of previous outputs. If we obtain a new location, we will conduct in-depth studies, and if we obtain a location that already has outputs, we will continue the research programme,” said Sri Widiati, Head of AHPC/Airlangga Health Promotion Center.
Through the continuation of the Patriot Expedition Team Programme, the Ministry of Transmigration aims to accelerate the transformation of transmigration zones into productive, competitive zones capable of becoming centres of new economic growth. Collaboration between the government and universities is expected to strengthen data-based planning, improve human resource quality, and encourage optimal utilisation of transmigration zone economic potential.