Stories from Bajawa
Notes from the Head of the ITB Patriot Expedition Team Output 1
Bajawa Area Locus, Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province

BALAWA, fmipa.itb.ac.id, -The Patriot Expedition Program is a strategic initiative of the Ministry of Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia which aims to accelerate the development of transmigration areas through scientific research, cross-sector collaboration and empowering human resources. Launched as part of the transformation of transmigration into a driver of new economic areas, this program involves thousands of participants from various universities to carry out potential mapping, feasibility studies, and develop strategies for downstreaming superior commodities in more than 150 transmigration locations. This expedition is not only a vehicle for education and research, but is also designed to attract investment and strengthen local institutions through digitalization and character training. With full support from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology as well as regional governments, the Patriot Expedition has become a symbol of academic and policy synergy in realizing national self-sufficiency and maintaining Indonesian unity. On this Patriot Expedition, ITB sent 57 teams, and 7 of them were FMIPA ITB lecturers, including Dr. Getbogi Hikmawan dan Dr. Acep Purqon dari Fisika, Dr. Yudhistira Aziz dan Dr. Abdul Rohman Supandi dari Kimia, Dr. Aditya Purwa Santika dan Arnasli Yahya, Ph.D dari Matematika dan Dr. Anton Timur Jaelani dari Astronomi.

Dr. Getbogi Hikmawan, S.Si., M.Si. became Chair of the Patriot Expedition Team (TEP) Output 1: Recommendations for Evaluation of Transmigration Areas for the Bajawa locus, Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province. Team members include: Maria Dolorosa Bhebhe, S.T., M.P.W.K. (PWK ITB Masters Alumni), Isnaini Mufidhatul Mughni S.Si. (ITB Physics Undergraduate Alumni), Artanti Mirta Kusuma, S.T. (Graduate Alumni of RIL ITB), and Syalwa Putria Kurniawati, S.Si. (ITB Biology Undergraduate Alumni). All team members will collaborate with relevant stakeholders intensively from August to December 2025.
The series of activities for the Output 1 team was designed in several stages. The initial stage began with carrying out a preliminary survey and field mapping, which focused on the three main sub-districts in Ngada Regency, namely North Bajawa District, West Riung District, and Aimere District. As a first step, the team has visited the three locations for a pre-survey (initial baseline) and delineation of the planning area as well as establishing initial communication with community leaders, transmigrants and residents. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) activities have also been carried out with village officials and representatives of village residents for two areas, namely SP 1 and 2 Ulluwae in North Bajawa District and SP Maronggela in West Riung District. Currently Team 1 (Coordinating with Output Team 2 chaired by Prof. Endah Sulistyawati, Ph.D. from Biology ITB) is preparing a Regency FGD which plans to invite the Regent, Regional Secretary, and related agencies to complete the process of preparing the final activity report.