Global scale activities were again carried out by the University of Bengkulu (Unib) by being involved in an international seminar held by the Regional Network on Poverty Eradication (RENPER) at Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Pattani Campus, Thailand, 29-31 August 2024.
The Unib delegation was led directly by the Rector, Dr. Retno Agustina Ekaputri, S.E, M.Sc, accompanied by the Vice Rector for Resources, Yefriza, S.E, MPPD, Ph.D; Lecturer of FEB Unib, Ratu Eva Febriani, S.E, M.Sc.; and staff of the office of Partnership and International Affairs (UPT KSLI), Faizal Iksan.
Together with the host and other RENPER members, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam (Women’s University)—India, San Beda University—Philippines, and REVA University—India, University of Bengkulu—Indonesia presented papers and research results on various approaches and practical plans for poverty alleviation in participating countries at this seminar.
Relevant to the theme “To foster knowledge integration and practical collaboration in addressing poverty eradication,” the Unib delegation presented a paper on the results of research and studies on “Gender Analysis in the Dynamics of Poverty in Sumatra – Indonesia.”
Ratu Eva Febriani, a Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, the University of Bengkulu (FEB Unib) as the spokesperson for Unib explained that the Gender Empowerment Index is a measure to assess the extent of equality of access and participation of women and men in the economic and political fields. In addition, the IDG is also used to measure gender equality in decision making.
The research results presented by Ratu Eva, gender affects poverty. Women always face problems in access to education, employment, and economic income than men. Therefore, poverty reduction efforts must consider a holistic gender perspective, which involves the active participation of women in decision-making and development planning.
the Rector of Unib, Dr. Retno Agustina Ekaputri was very enthusiastic about this seminar, and together with other participating university leaders, she discussed many opportunities and possibilities for cooperation that could be developed between universities to support the improvement of the academic atmosphere, in addition to exchanging ideas to contribute to the handling of poverty issues.
The presence of the Rector at this event was warmly welcomed and full of friendship by the leadership of the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Pattani Campus since Unib itself is one of the founding universities of RENPER and was the President of RENPER in 2017.
In addition to the seminar, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Pattani Campus who is also the Chairperson of the RENPER Network at this university, Dr. Monthira Leelakriengsak, invited and accompanied the Unib delegation and other RENPER network delegates to visit the Kalyanivat cultural center, aquatic incubation, sea turtle cultivation, and multicultural historical sites in Pattani Province.
By visiting multicultural sites such as the Mosque in Pattani Province, Building No. 5 Kuandajino, Ban Khun Pitak Raya, Ban Yellow on Aanaru Road, RENPER network academics can see and feel the culture and lifestyle of the people of Pattani – Thailand.
RENPER is an academic organization as a manifestation of the initiative of several universities in ASIA to participate in poverty alleviation in their respective countries and contribute internationally through research, scientific development and other academic activities.
Since the establishment of RENPER in October 2010 at Kelantan University-Malaysia, Unib has become a member and is one of the universities that initiated the establishment of RENPER with 9 universities in Asia (Southeast).
RENPER activities are in the form of seminars and academic studies on poverty reduction which are packaged in the form of consul meetings and annual meetings.
As one of the initiators of RENPER, Unib also hosted an international seminar (annual meeting) in 2012 which was attended by hundreds of experts from various universities in the country and from ASIA countries.
RENPER’s poverty eradication is not like that of social organizations or NGOs. Here, poverty eradication efforts are carried out through a scientific approach by experts at each university. There is a process of transferring science and technology, and assistance to the community is carried out according to the expertise of academics.
In addition to making a real contribution to poverty eradication efforts in Bengkulu Province and in Indonesia in general, for Unib as an institution, RENPER is also a place to increase the existence of international relations in order to realize Unib’s vision as a World Class University in 2025. [Faisal/Purna Herawan/Humas].
