Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has established a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia to strengthen efforts to empower communities and develop transmigration areas.
The partnership was formalized on Wednesday (May 14) at the UGM Jakarta Campus with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and two Cooperation Agreements (PKS).
This signing marks part of UGM’s ongoing commitment to expanding its contribution to national development. The event took place in an atmosphere of strong collaboration between academia and policymakers.
The MoU between the two institutions was signed by UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia and the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Transmigration, Danton Ginting Munthe.
On this occasion, the Minister of Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia, Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanegara, was also present to witness the signing, signaling his support for the synergy between higher education and the government.
This collaboration marks an important milestone in building cross-sector networks for knowledge-based development. Both parties agreed to strengthen their cooperation, focusing on practical, field-oriented solutions.
In her remarks, the Rector of UGM emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships in fostering sustainable development in transmigration areas.
She stated that synergy with the ministry is part of UGM’s mission to be present among the people. This approach is expected to have a direct and tangible impact on research outcomes.
“UGM bears a moral and intellectual responsibility to participate in the nation’s development, particularly through scientific contributions that can be directly applied within society. This collaboration represents our concrete commitment to developing transmigration areas in a participatory and research-based manner,” she said.
In addition to the MoU signing, two Cooperation Agreements (PKS) were also signed to reinforce the partnership’s implementation at the technical level.
The first PKS was signed between the Directorate General of Economic Development and Community Empowerment in Transmigration Areas (PEMT) and UGM, represented by UGM Vice-Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni, Dr. Arie Sujito.
This agreement focuses on local economic development and sustainable empowerment of transmigrant communities. The initiative also reflects UGM’s commitment to promoting economic self-reliance in rural communities. Various empowerment programs will be designed to align with each area’s unique potential and needs.
“UGM is committed to being present as an academic institution and an active government partner in driving social and economic transformation. We aim to make transmigration areas a fertile ground for community innovation and independence through a collaborative and needs-based empowerment approach,” said Dr. Sujito.
He stressed the importance of social sensitivity in designing community service programs in transmigration regions, noting that policies must not be purely top-down but should be rooted in the communities’ real needs.
Meanwhile, the second PKS was signed between the Directorate General of Transmigration Area Development (PPKT) and UGM, represented by the Director of Community Service, Dr. Rustamadji.
This cooperation aims to integrate the development of transmigration areas through research-based and innovation-driven models of community service and assistance. The programs to be implemented include training, applied research, and direct mentoring by UGM teams.
With multidisciplinary support, UGM hopes to accelerate the transformation of transmigration areas into productive and livable regions.
Through this collaboration, UGM reaffirms its role as a people-centered university that contributes meaningfully to national challenges.
The partnership is expected to serve as a model for synergy between the education sector and government in addressing development challenges through data-driven policymaking and real-world action.
UGM believes that social change begins with well-planned and sustained collective efforts.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Photographs: MM UGM Jakarta