Bappenas Discusses Human Resource Development and Desa Cemara Program Collaboration with ITB

The Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Rachmat Pambudy conducted a working visit to the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) to strengthen the partnership for human resources (HR) development through collaborative programs between the Ministry and ITB. 

This partnership, established through Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) No. NKB/10/SES/03/2020 and No. 010/I1.A/DN/2020, is valid for five years until March 2025. It encompasses various programs, including education, training, research, and community service. 

During the meeting, Minister Rachmat emphasized the importance of strategic collaboration in enhancing professional HR planning responsive to sustainable development needs. “The Republic of Indonesia owes a debt of gratitude to ITB. ITB has contributed immensely and stands as a historic pillar in national development planning. Universities must be utilized, empowered, and relied upon to shape Indonesia's future," said Minister Rachmat on Thursday (14/11).

The Minister further highlighted the critical role of universities in national development. “We aim to build a compass from campuses. Indonesia's direction must be based on ideas from universities, and the nation's progress must begin there. We hope ITB will play a crucial role in economic downstreaming. ITB’s significant contributions must and can be utilized by the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas,” he explained.

The collaboration between the Ministry of PPN/Bappenas and ITB includes various educational and training programs through Pusbindiklatren at the Ministry and master's programs at ITB, such as the Master’s in Regional and City Planning, Development Studies, and Transportation. Additionally, ITB is involved in the innovative Desa Cemara (Smart-Self-Reliant-Prosperous Village) program, a cross-sector initiative supporting the acceleration of poverty alleviation. This program focuses on empowering rural communities, enabling ITB students to apply their knowledge directly in the field.

This partnership is expected to continue strengthening the contributions and collaboration between ITB and Bappenas in building high-quality human resources and directly contributing to community development. 

“I feel grateful that, historically, the first head of Bappenas, Juanda, was an ITB alumnus. For this reason, the collaboration between the Ministry and ITB must continue—not only in the past but also today and into the future,” concluded Minister Rachmat.