BOGOR — The Indonesian government through the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has a funding program provided to State Universities (PTN) to fulfill the 2025-2045 Indonesian National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN).
IPB University is one of the universities that received the grant through the Inter-University Center of Excellence (PUAPT) program for Food Security or also known as the Inter University Center (IUCFE) For Excellence In Food Security.
The Inter-University Center of Excellence (PUAPT) program is designed as a strategic initiative to strengthen national food security through five main focuses. This program includes high-yield food crop production, resilient and sustainable aquaculture, technology translation for local livestock, ), sustainable processing of safe and quality food, and public nutrition and health.
To realize the program, IPB received a grant allocation of IDR 190 billion. This budget is allocated for a number of needs, namely 91.32% for equipment procurement, 4.84% for light civil works, 1.42% for training and certification of non-degree staff, and 2.42% for the implementation of workshops, seminars, and collaborations. In addition, PUAPT is also targeted to collect matching funds worth IDR 20 billion, or equivalent to 10.52% of the total budget provided by the government.
The signing of the Work Contract for the Inter-University Center of Excellence Program (PUAPT) was carried out on December 1, 2023 at the AYANA Midplaza Hotel, Jakarta. The Chancellor of IPB University, Prof. Arif Satria, officially signed the agreement as a form of the institution’s commitment to strengthening its strategic role in national food security. Present on that occasion were the Head of the International Research Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (LRI-PGK), Prof. Dr. Ir. Drajat Martianto, MSi, and the Secretary of LRI-PGK, Prof. Dr. Ing Azis Boing Sitanggang, STP., MSc.
As an implementing institution, PUAPT IPB University plays a central role as a national research hub that focuses on increasing the capacity of food and nutrition security. This program is intended to support regulations based on scientific evidence, encourage the advancement of the agricultural production sector, and accelerate the development of nutritious food ingredients. Its contribution does not stop at the academic aspect, but also has a direct impact on efforts to overcome the three burdens of nutritional problems in Indonesia. Monitoring of the implementation of the PUAPT program is carried out through facilitation of research activities, training, and capacity development that are relevant to the issue of food and nutrition security.
In implementing the PUAPT Program, IPB University appointed the International Research Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (LRI-PGK) as the project implementation unit (PIU). LRI-PGK plays a central role in coordinating the implementation of the program within IPB which involves five main faculties, namely the Faculty of Agriculture (FAPERTA), Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FATETA), Faculty of Animal Husbandry (FAPET), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK), and Faculty of Human Ecology (FEMA).
The scope of program implementation includes equipment procurement, light civil works, training, and human resource capacity development. All agendas are carried out in a structured manner to support the development of the food and nutrition sector nationally.
Since the beginning of 2024, LRI-PGK has been actively holding various coordination meetings to ensure the smooth running of the program. Several important agendas that have been implemented include coordination meetings to monitor the progress of Equipment Procurement in March and the Equipment Procurement Finalization Helpdesk in April. Not only focusing on technical and infrastructure aspects, this program also opens up space for global collaboration. This can be seen from IPB’s participation in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with The Australian National University (ANU) in April 2024, as part of strengthening the international research network.
Other activities include the preparation of semester I progress reports in May and June, as well as the implementation of periodic monitoring such as the Equipment Checklist and Building Renovation which will last until December. Program evaluation was also carried out through monitoring and evaluation (monev) activities by the Directorate General of Higher Education (Ditjen Dikti) in August and the IPB Internal Audit Office (KAI) in October 2024.
During the implementation process, a number of challenges such as import permits for equipment, price increases due to inflation, and limited availability of equipment became the main issues. However, all of these obstacles were responded to with an adaptive and flexible procurement strategy, ensuring that the program’s targets and sustainability were maintained.
“Monitoring is not just about compliance, but ensuring that what we build provides concrete benefits in strengthening the national food system,” said Prof. Drajat Martianto, Head of LRI-PGK.
IPB University continues to make efforts to strengthen global competitiveness in managing centers of excellence. In September 2024, an IPB delegation together with four other state universities — University of Indonesia (UI), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), and Airlangga University (UNAIR) — conducted a study visit to Australia. This activity aims to gain experience from leading world institutions, one of which is The Australian National University for Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions (ANU ICEDS).
The visit was a strategic step to open up opportunities for international cooperation and replicate best practices in developing centers of excellence. This global synergy is expected to strengthen the implementation of the PUAPT Program and expand the reach of its impact.
As a form of accountability for the implementation of the program, the International Research Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health (LRI-PGK) prepared a final report on the PUAPT program at IPB in 2024 which was finalized on November 29, 2024 at the Graha Samida Building, Bogor. The preparation of the report was carried out collaboratively by involving the leaders of units involved in PUAPT activities and the implementing team as a form of accountability for program achievements throughout the year.
Through the PUAPT program, IPB University not only targets success in terms of program implementation, but also positions PUAPT as a driving force for national and international collaboration in building inclusive and sustainable food security.
The concrete achievements of this program are reflected in the final report of PUAPT in 2024, recording 100 percent achievement in all physical and budget components. The details are 92.43 percent for procurement of equipment and goods, 3.90 percent for civil works, and 3.68 percent for implementation of soft programs. This achievement confirms IPB University’s position as a model of success in organizing a center of excellence at the national level.
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