A total of 290 individuals, consisting of lecturers, researchers, and students from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), will be deployed as part of the Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) to 32 transmigration areas across Indonesia. The team is expected to carry out mapping and accelerate development in these transmigrant regions.
Dr. Rustamaji, Chair of the TEP UGM, addressed the participants and emphasized that Patriot UGM plays a crucial role in national development, while also strengthening Indonesia’s unity in diversity.
According to him, the program also represents a synergy between universities and the Ministry of Transmigration to create new economic development hubs in each transmigration site.
“This UGM team focuses on strategic recommendations for evaluating transmigration areas, developing priority commodities, designing collaborative economic institutional models, addressing and preventing conflicts in transmigration regions, and drafting a basic design for aquaculture systems in coastal communities,” said Dr. Rustamaji after the team’s send-off in front of the UGM Directorate of Community Service office on Saturday (Aug. 23).
Professor Puji Astuti, UGM Director of Partnerships and Global Relations, expressed her appreciation for the program, particularly given UGM’s extensive preparation and readiness to directly contribute to on-site assessments.
“The scientific studies from this program can be directly applied to the development of transmigration areas,” said Professor Astuti.
Dr. Dewi Cahyani Puspitasari, Coordinator of the Patriot Expedition, explained that preparations for the UGM team had been made well in advance.
She added that participants also showed great enthusiasm for the program.
She hopes that TEP UGM will run smoothly, safely, and produce impactful outcomes, especially for communities in transmigration regions.
Two Forestry students, Nataya Darajati and Brianita Widiashari, are among the TEP UGM participants.
Both chose to dedicate their time after completing their undergraduate studies by joining this initiative.
Darajati, who will serve in Aceh, had prepared in advance by sending essential items and mapping out the region.
Preparations also included coordination with local authorities, weekly activity mapping, and conducting a detailed review of the Terms of Reference (TOR) to ensure that the research and community service deliver the intended outcomes.
“We hope that the local community will welcome us, that they will embrace and benefit from the program, and that it will create long-term sustainability,” Darajati said.
As scheduled, the UGM Patriot Expedition team will first travel to Jakarta to attend a briefing by the Ministry of Transmigration on Aug. 24-25, 2025, before departing for their respective assignments across 14 TEP UGM locations.
The program is expected to run until Dec. 8, 2025.
Author: Bolivia Rahmawati
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographs: TEP UGM