ITB and Kemendesa Collaboration in Developing Disadvantaged Regions with Suitable Technology

February 11, 2023 - ( update : 14-03-2023 )

By Adi Permana

Editor Adi Permana

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id—To increase collaboration with the government, Institut Teknologi Bandung signed an agreement with the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration on Friday (10/2/2023).

This partnership is supported by the alignment and synergy of programs that focus on speeding up the targeted SDGs by applying technology in 3T (disadvantaged, remote, and outermost) areas. One such technology implementation is the DESANESHA application made by ITB LPPM (Institute for Research and Community Service). This application can connect the chiefs of villages with any ITB experts in solving community issues.

The agreement was signed by the Head of Development and Information from the Ministry Dr. Ivanovich Agusta S.P., M.Si., and ITB Vice Rector of Research and Innovation Prof. Ir. I Gede Wenten, M.Sc., Ph.D. The procedure was witnessed by the Minister of PDTT Village Dr. (HC) Drs. H. Abdul Halim Iskandar, M.Pd. and ITB Rector, Prof. Reini Wirahadikusumah, Ph.D. at the ITB Rectorate Building.

The agreement has four main goals- to perform community services in 3T regions, to update data and information of villages, to conduct technical assistance in the programs, and to apply the most suitable technology agreed upon by all parties.

Prof. Reini thanked the Ministry for giving ITB the trust and responsibility in handling the problems found in 3T villages. She stated that community services had become a main program in ITB for the last five years. To achieve its vision as a locally relevant and globally respected university, ITB can start by helping local problems to contribute to the nation.

“This collaboration is not simply asking ITB’s help in creating the perfect technology as the solution,” she declared. “ITB can get wider access to introduce its innovation to the people.”

Dr. Abdul mentioned that most villages currently own sufficient capital to fix the issues with the technologies used. However, they lack access and knowledge in applying these technologies. Hence, Dana Desa is established with a 5-fold increase from 24 to 117 trillion rupiahs. “Together, we can accomplish the goal of using technology as a problem-solving tool in villages, and the DESANESHA application will be the pioneering invention.”

DESANESHA can notify the issue faced by the villages to ITB. The experts who received the information can analyze it together with village representatives to solve it.

The Secretary of ITB LPPM Community Service as well as developer of DESANESHA, Deny Willy Junaidy, Ph.D., stated that the application was made to synergize with the Ministry’s targets and solve various issues via technology. “ITB is here and ready to help all 3T regions using the technology and innovation we have.”