UNDIP, Semarang (December 23, 2025) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), through the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), held the Dissemination of Research Results and Policy Recommendations of the 2025 Patriot Expedition Team on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The event was conducted in a hybrid format, with onsite venues at the 5th Floor of the ICT Building, Universitas Diponegoro Semarang, and Hotel Gran Melia Jakarta. UNDIP is one of seven universities in Indonesia selected to implement this program.
The dissemination served as an official forum for presenting field research findings and policy recommendations prepared by the Patriot Expedition Team as UNDIP’s academic contribution to supporting the transformation of national transmigration policies. The forum also reaffirmed the role of higher education institutions in delivering data-, science-, and technology-based studies to address development challenges in transmigration areas.
During the forum, the UNDIP Patriot Expedition Team presented thematic research findings by region, covering transmigration areas in Sumatra, Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara, and Sulawesi. The presentations focused on investment schemes, the Bakti Nusantara program, and evaluations of transmigration areas in each region. These were complemented by methodological reflections and policy scenario simulations to map development directions based on local potential, infrastructure readiness, and integration with investment and market systems.
UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., emphasized that UNDIP’s involvement in the Patriot Expedition reflects the university’s commitment to ensuring that public policies are formulated based on real field conditions rather than solely on administrative approaches. “We often develop policies in a Jakarta-centric manner. However, when we directly observe conditions in the field, we realize that the problems are far more complex. Therefore, our discussions must be fact-based and grounded in what we truly see and observe in the field,” said Prof. Suharnomo.
He added that the Patriot Expedition underscores universities’ role not only in achieving academic excellence but also in providing tangible solutions to society. “Higher education institutions must be able to address real societal issues through applicable and beneficial research and innovation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. M. Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanagara, S.H., M.A., stated that the results of the Patriot Expedition demonstrate a fundamental paradigm shift in transmigration. Transmigration is no longer viewed merely as population relocation but as a development strategy to create new centers of economic growth. On this occasion, the Minister also expressed appreciation to all universities involved in the 2025 Patriot Expedition.
The relevance of transmigration has fundamentally shifted today. Transmigration is no longer simply a movement of people, but an effort to create new centers of economic growth by increasing land productivity and human capacity in transmigration areas. Currently, the main challenge in developing transmigration areas lies not in limited potential, but in management that is not yet integrated with investment and market systems. Therefore, transmigration area development must be based on data, science, and technology, and supported by collaboration across ministries, the business world, and universities.
The Minister of Transmigration also emphasized that future transmigration area management must move away from a purely intuitive approach and shift to decision-making based on data, science, and technology. “Transmigration today must be based on data, science, and technology. This concern is crucial given the complexity of managing transmigration areas, which encompass millions of hectares and millions of people across generations. With strong data, policies can be calculated, audited, and their impact on the community can be accelerated,” said the Minister.
The Minister also noted that the involvement of universities and research institutions in the Patriot Expedition provides the government with comprehensive, measurable, field-based data, enabling policies to be not only normative but also evaluable, auditable, and faster to implement.
UNDIP Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, Collaboration, and Public Communication, Wijayanto, S.IP., M.Si., Ph.D., emphasized that UNDIP’s participation in the Patriot Expedition represents a value-driven commitment to promoting equitable welfare and social justice through the development of transmigration areas.
“UNDIP is honored to be involved in this brilliant and noble Patriot Expedition. Transmigration is no longer interpreted merely as population relocation but as an effort to create new centers of economic growth in Indonesia’s outer regions. This activity is a value-driven mission to promote equitable welfare and social justice for all Indonesians,” he stated.
He added that synergy between the Ministry of Transmigration and higher education institutions is expected to accelerate tangible efforts to deliver prosperity and welfare across regions.
The Coordinator of the UNDIP Patriot Expedition, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wiwandari Handayani, ST, MT, MPS, accompanied by Special Team Coordinator dr. Achmad Zulfa Juniarto, M.Si.Med., Sp.And(K)., M.M.R., Ph.D., expressed high appreciation to the 57 teams that carried out their duties with dedication. The reports presented highlighted the diverse typologies of transmigration areas and introduced various conceptual frameworks and alternative solutions proposed by Universitas Diponegoro.
“Field experiences of the Patriot Expedition Team demonstrate that there is no single universal solution—one size does not fit all. Each area requires a contextual approach based on local characteristics and sustainability orientation. We hope this program can continue, accompanied by concrete intervention measures to drive sustainable and equitable transmigration transformation,” she added.
At this event, certificates and appreciation awards were presented to the seven universities involved in the 2025 Patriot Expedition, in recognition by the Ministry of Transmigration of their academic contributions, commitment, and active participation in field research activities.
Through this dissemination, Universitas Diponegoro hopes that the research findings and policy recommendations of the 2025 Patriot Expedition will serve as strategic references for developing more adaptive, measurable, and welfare-oriented national transmigration policies. (Public Communication/UNDIP/Hanang, ed. Nurul)
