Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, October 2, 2026 at 07:11 AM UTC

Minister proposes thematic community service for peatland management

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Aria, Kenzu

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto proposed implementing thematic for student community service (KKN) programmes focused on peatland management in at least six provinces to involve university students in protecting and managing peatlands.

"If next year our thematic KKN happens to be about protecting peatlands, that would also be fine," Yuliarto said at the workshop on the National Peat and Mangrove Management Agency (BPGMN) establishment here on Friday.

The proposal was conveyed by Yuliarto to Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni during the closing event of the workshop.

Yuliarto said the thematic KKN programme could be directed, so that students go into peatland areas before the fire-prone season begins, allowing universities to get involved from the prevention stage.

"At the very least, in six provinces we can direct the KKN programme specifically toward the theme of protecting or managing peatlands," he said.

However, he has not yet specified the six provinces in question, nor the number of students and universities that would be involved.

Yuliarto explained students could typically begin mobilizing around June if the thematic KKN idea is followed up on.

Universities have resources, such as lecturers, students, laboratories, research results, and various innovations that could be involved in peatland management, he added.

Student involvement is expected to allow research findings and knowledge from universities to be applied to help resolving issues on the ground, while also strengthening community service.

Yuliarto also opened up the possibility of linking the university involvement with the Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) programme run by Transmigration Ministry.

In 2026, the Transmigration Ministry deployed 1,476 TEP participants organized into 246 teams across 53 transmigration areas to carry out research, mentoring, empowerment, and follow-up development of each area's potential.

The 2026 TEP programme involves 10 main partner universities and its budget reaches Rp226 billion, up from Rp176 billion the previous year.

Meanwhile, data from the Higher Education, Science, and Technology Ministry showed around 10.75 million registered students, with 3.34 million, or 31.1 percent, in the fields of STEM.

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