Langkat, 20 July 2026 – Higher education institutions reaffirmed their commitment to building disaster-resilient villages through the Indonesian Collaborative Community Service Program (PMKI), a nationwide initiative involving 24 Legal Entity State Universities (PTNBH). The program was conducted in Kutabuluh Village, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, under the theme "Enhancing Village Officials' Capacity in Disaster Mitigation, Adaptation, and Preparedness through Risk-Based Public Asset Management."
The program featured experts from several PTNBH institutions participating in the PMKI consortium, including Prof. Dr. Elisabet Siahaan, S.E., M.Ec., Head of the Master of Property Management and Valuation Program at the Graduate School of Universitas Sumatera Utara and Director of the Center of Excellence for Science and Technology (PUI) Smart Innovation Hub for Asset Management and System Intelligence; Dr. Lasma Melinda Siahaan, S.E., M.Si., lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Sumatera Utara, and researcher at the same research center; Yasir Riady, S.S., M.Hum. from Universitas Terbuka; and Prof. Ir. Taufika Ophiyandri, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D. from Universitas Andalas.
During the sessions, the speakers discussed key topics including disaster risk identification, community-based mitigation and adaptation strategies, the principles of risk-based public asset management, and practical preparedness measures that can be implemented by village governments. Particular emphasis was placed on integrating disaster risk reduction into every stage of the public asset management cycle—from planning, procurement, utilization, and maintenance to asset disposal.
Prof. Elisabet Siahaan emphasized that public asset management should no longer focus solely on inventory and maintenance but must evolve into a system capable of adapting to climate change and disaster risks. According to her, village public assets represent critical infrastructure that must be protected through a risk-based approach to ensure the continuity of public services and sustainable rural development.
She further explained that resilient public asset management directly contributes to community well-being. Infrastructure that remains operational during disasters helps sustain local economic activities (SDG 1: No Poverty), maintains agricultural distribution systems and food security (SDG 2: Zero Hunger), ensures the continuity of essential healthcare services (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being), and minimizes disruptions to educational activities (SDG 4: Quality Education).
Meanwhile, Dr. Lasma Melinda Siahaan highlighted that strengthening the capacity of village officials is fundamental to establishing effective public asset governance. A thorough understanding of risk identification, asset vulnerability assessment, and mitigation planning enables village governments to respond more effectively to disasters while minimizing social and economic losses.
She also stressed that building resilient villages requires sustained collaboration among universities, government institutions, the private sector, and local communities. Such a collaborative approach reflects the implementation of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), where research, innovation, and community engagement play crucial roles in strengthening local capacity to address climate change and disaster-related challenges.
The program was attended by village heads, village officials, members of the Village Consultative Body (BPD), community leaders, and other local stakeholders. Interactive discussions addressed pressing local issues, including flood risks, infrastructure damage, disruptions to public services, and the need for more systematic strategies to protect village assets.
As part of the program, participants also conducted the identification and mapping of public assets that are highly vulnerable to disasters. Using a participatory approach, strategic assets—including village roads, bridges, educational facilities, healthcare centers, clean water infrastructure, agricultural areas, and public service buildings—were assessed based on their level of disaster risk. The resulting asset map is expected to serve as a reference for determining mitigation priorities, budget allocation, and disaster-resilient village development planning.
The mapping initiative is expected to strengthen the village economy, safeguard public access to healthcare and education, and protect productive assets that support local livelihoods. Consequently, disaster mitigation is positioned not only as a risk reduction strategy but also as an integral component of inclusive and sustainable rural development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Beyond enhancing the capacity of village officials, the program introduced risk-based public asset management as an innovative governance approach that supports sustainable development. The framework encourages village governments to integrate asset data, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies into village development planning documents, ensuring that future investments are better prepared to withstand disaster risks.
Through the Indonesian Collaborative Community Service Program, the consortium of 24 PTNBH is expected to continue generating innovations, providing technical assistance, and facilitating knowledge transfer that delivers tangible benefits to society. This collaboration represents a practical implementation of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) while simultaneously advancing SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening the capacity of village governments to manage public assets in an adaptive, sustainable, and community-oriented manner.
The program was specifically designed to improve village governments' understanding of public asset management that incorporates disaster risk considerations, particularly in disaster-prone areas. This approach has become increasingly important as the frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological disasters continue to rise due to climate change, posing significant threats to public services, village development, and the sustainability of strategic public assets.
Strengthening village governments' capacity in risk-based public asset management not only aims to reduce disaster impacts but also contributes directly to the Sustainable Development Goals by protecting community economic assets (SDG 1), safeguarding food security infrastructure (SDG 2), preserving healthcare facilities and clean water services (SDG 3), ensuring the continuity of educational facilities during disasters (SDG 4), and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration among universities, government institutions, and communities (SDG 17).
The program was officially opened by the Government of Kutabuluh Village together with the PMKI team, who reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between universities, government institutions, and local communities in building disaster-resilient villages. Universities are expected to serve not only as centers of knowledge creation but also as agents of transformation that translate research into practical solutions with meaningful societal impact.