Undana Awaits Guidance from Kemendiktisaintek on SPPG and MBG

Rector of Universitas Nusa Cendana (Undana) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Jefri Bale, stated that his campus is still awaiting official guidance from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) regarding its role in national priority programmes, including the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG). Jefri said that Undana is in principle ready if asked to establish a Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG). However, he believes that such a step must go through clear mechanisms, particularly guidance from Kemendiktisaintek. “We are certainly awaiting guidance from Kemendiktisaintek; what the Minister conveyed in the media is more about the teaching factory function,” said Jefri on Wednesday (6/5/2026). He explained that if given the opportunity, the campus would focus on strengthening the application of research to support national priority programmes, including MBG. “So if the campus is given the opportunity to strengthen, it is more towards the application of research to support national priority programmes including MBG,” he stated. Jefri hopes that the model developed by the campus can later serve as an example for MBG kitchen management in Indonesia, particularly in NTT. “So that the model can become an example for the processing of MBG kitchens in Indonesia, especially in NTT,” he said. Nevertheless, he emphasised that there has been no formal guidance from Kemendiktisaintek to date. The idea, he said, is only at the stage of being conveyed for consideration. “Formally, there is none yet, but this has been conveyed to be considered, and if I’m not mistaken, it has already been launched at Unhas,” he revealed. “We are awaiting guidance from Kemendiktisaintek on what the policy will be like,” added Jefri. Previously, the Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, said that campuses could consider having at least one Nutrition Fulfilment Service Unit (SPPG) to support national nutrition improvement. “I think campuses need to understand this, because this is a big opportunity. At least have one SPPG first, and if possible, the supplies come from the academic community itself,” said Dadan on Thursday (30/5/2026). He mentioned that several campuses in Indonesia already have SPPG, such as Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas), IPB University, and several private universities. “At IPB it’s already there, at several private universities it’s already there, but the first in public universities in eastern Indonesia, Unhas is always leading in that regard and I congratulate them,” said Dadan.