Ministry of Social Affairs MoU with UNESA and 18 LPTK to Address Social and Education Problems

Unesa.ac.id, SURABAYA-Rector of Surabaya State University (UNESA) and his staff attended the coordination meeting of the Rector Forum of Educational Personnel Education Institutions (LPTK) throughout Indonesia at the Clarion Hotel, Makassar City, South Sulawesi on Monday, May 22, 2023. This coordination meeting also discussed a collaboration program with the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) of the Republic of Indonesia.

Minister of Social Affairs Dr. (HC) Ir. Hj Tri Rismaharini, M.T., stated that various challenges in the field, especially regarding education and poverty, require collaboration with LPTK universities that can contribute to strengthening science and transferring technology.

“Educated and skilled resources are key in the government's efforts to tackle poverty. Education is very important and very much needed by the community,” said Risma, who wore a traditional Bugis costume in front of the LPTK leaders.

She added that there are several programs that can be cooperated in the future such as social empowerment, social protection and security, to social rehabilitation targeting all communities from Aceh to Papua. Not only areas that are easily accessible, but inland areas and locations of Remote Indigenous Communities (KAT), even the outermost regions of Indonesia's border areas.

“I am very happy to be here and meet with the rectors as well as signing the MoU to solve the problems of children and poverty, especially disabilities. I believe that by working together with universities, Indonesia can prosper faster,” said Risma.

UNESA Rector Prof. Dr. Nurhasan, M.Kes., said that this coordination meeting with the Ministry of Social Affairs is a joint effort and commitment to solve various challenges of education and poverty in various regions. Prior to this forum, he had also held a meeting with the Ministry of Social Affairs related to the synergy of handling disabilities and children's education in the outermost and deepest regions of Indonesia.

“Yesterday we discussed aspects of cooperation and what we can do and now we are doing an MoU as a basis for future implementation. As for what we will do, namely the preparation of parenting modules for parents and handling disabilities in the regions. This is a serious concern of the Minister of Social Affairs (Risma, ed),” said Cak Hasan.

This coordination meeting was attended by Plt. Director General of Higher Education of the Ministry of Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Ir. Nizam, M.Sc., Ph.D, who on that occasion encouraged the synergy of universities and academics to be directly involved in answering problems that occur in society. With this MBKM program, campuses can more freely package cooperation programs that not only involve lecturers, but also students.

There were 19 LPTKs who attended this forum and signed the MoU with the Ministry of Social Affairs, namely UNESA, UNM, UNP, UNIMED, UNJ, UPI, Unnes, UNY, Undiksha, UNG, UM, UNIMA, Unimal Lhokseumaue, Unmul Samarinda, ULM Banjarmasin, UBT Tarakan, UHO Kendari, Unsulbar Majene, and Unhas. []

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Author: Muhammad Azhar Adi Mas'ud

Editor: @zam alasiah*

Photo: Unesa team documentation

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