IPB University Hosts Leadership Development Program for Higher Education Institutions

Amid the dynamic landscape of global higher education, strengthening leadership capacity has become a key foundation in building adaptive and visionary universities. In this context, IPB University had the honor of hosting the Leadership Development Program for Higher Education Institutions (LDP-HEIs).

The program was organized by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEAMEO SEARCA) in collaboration with The HEAD Foundation (21/10). It brought together emerging leaders from higher education institutions, including faculty members and administrative staff being prepared for future leadership roles.

Dr. Eva Anggraini, Director of Global Connectivity at IPB University, emphasized that IPB’s participation as a member of both SEARCA and The HEAD Foundation consortium reflects the university’s strong commitment to enhancing its academic engagement and leadership role at the international level.

“This year, IPB University is privileged to serve as the host institution of this leadership program, as part of our ongoing contribution to strengthening networks and advancing the leadership capacity of higher education institutions across Southeast Asia,” said Dr. Eva.

Prof. Ernan Rustiadi, Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Agromaritime Development, noted that the event provides an excellent platform to foster inter-university collaboration and to learn leadership competencies from distinguished experts.

“We hope the participants will gain meaningful insights and bring about positive transformations within their respective institutions,” stated Prof. Ernan.

Ms. Michelle Leong, Senior Manager for Capacity Building Programmes at The HEAD Foundation, explained that the initiative is designed to help faculty and university administrators cultivate leadership skills that extend beyond the academic sphere to institutional management and governance.

“This program encourages participants to explore innovative ideas, collaborate with mentors, develop actionable plans, and implement transformative changes within their institutions,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, Dr. N. Varaprasad, Director of the 7th LDP-HEIs in Southeast Asia, elaborated that participants are required to develop strategic plans based on a SWOT analysis of their respective universities.

“We aspire for the participants to return to their institutions with renewed enthusiasm and a concrete vision to drive meaningful change,” he stated.

As part of the program, participants also visited the Agribusiness Technology Park (ATP) and Science Techno Park (STP) of IPB University to observe real-world applications of innovation and university-based entrepreneurship.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Varaprasad delivered an inspiring message:

“I sincerely hope that this cross-border collaboration will continue to flourish through joint research projects, faculty exchanges, and other academic partnerships. These efforts will strengthen personal and professional bonds among participants and foster a long-term impact on higher education development across Asia.”