BISNISREAL.COM, PADANG – Thursday February 12,2026 Building a nation starts from its outskirts. This philosophy is the driving force behind Andalas University’s (UNAND) latest initiative. Through the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), UNAND has officially announced 17 villages (Nagari) and districts selected for its prestigious “Nagari Binaan” (Fostered Village) program for 2025.
More Than Just a Program This is not a mere formality or a typical charity project. It is a strategic marriage between academic expertise and local wisdom. The selected areas, ranging from the historic Balingka in Agam to the remote Muara Sikabaluan in the Mentawai Islands, will receive intensive guidance from the university’s top experts.
The Mission: Governance, Economy, and Technology The goal of this program is crystal clear: to transform traditional villages into modern, independent hubs. UNAND will deploy its best professors and researchers to serve as coordinators, focusing on three main goals:
- Improving Governance: Streamlining village administration for better transparency.
- Economic Empowerment: Helping locals turn their regional products into competitive brands.
- Digital Transformation: Introducing technology to close the digital divide, ensuring that even remote villages have access to modern services.
Special Focus on Pauh District Interestingly, the Pauh District in Padang City—where the UNAND campus is located—has been designated as a special “Fostered District.” This initiative aims to strengthen the bond between the university and its immediate neighbors, creating a ripple effect of progress that starts right at the campus gates.
Why This Matters For these villages, this partnership is a golden opportunity. Rural development often hits a wall due to a lack of technical resources and networking. UNAND acts as a bridge, providing the research and technological tools necessary to overcome these hurdles.
By the end of 2025, the program hopes to see these 17 Nagari emerge as “Smart Villages”—communities that are not only self-sufficient but also capable of competing on a national level. This is a testament to UNAND’s commitment to making science and technology work for the people.
