Indonesia Mobilizes University Students to Support Disaster Recovery in NTT

RRI.CO.ID, Manggarai - Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology is coordinating preparations for the Aksara Mahasiswa program to support communities affected by disasters in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The initiative is designed to connect university students and academic institutions with the immediate needs of communities undergoing recovery.

The coordination was conducted during a working visit by Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto to Manggarai Regency on Wednesday August 26, 2026. The meeting involved representatives from the National Disaster Management Agency, the Manggarai Regency Government, the Higher Education Service Institute, university leaders, supervising lecturers, and students.

Representatives of student executive bodies from Airlangga University, Gadjah Mada University, and Bandung Institute of Technology also took part in the preparation. Students from universities across NTT were involved in gathering initial information on conditions and community needs in disaster-affected areas.

“We are here together this afternoon to consolidate and examine the available data, so that the various programs we will implement can better match the needs on the ground,” Brian said. The information collected will serve as a basis for designing programs that address the most urgent priorities of affected communities.

The discussions identified several key needs, including access to clean water, electricity, healthcare services, psychological support, and trauma healing. Universities with expertise in health, psychology, engineering, education, disaster management, and community empowerment are expected to contribute their respective resources and knowledge.

Through Aksara Mahasiswa, these different areas of expertise will be coordinated to ensure that assistance is targeted, well-organized, and sustainable. The program also encourages collaboration between universities in NTT and institutions from outside the province to strengthen the recovery process.

Brian said the consolidation would help ensure that student and university programs from outside NTT could be implemented more effectively and efficiently. “Hopefully, through this activity, the direction of impactful student and university programs from outside NTT will be much more effective and efficient, allowing us to carry out recovery efforts quickly,” he said.

The preparation of Aksara Mahasiswa in NTT is part of the Ministry’s “Impactful Higher Education” policy, which encourages universities to connect their knowledge, expertise, and resources with the real needs of communities. By combining learning with community service and cross-university collaboration, the program is expected to strengthen the role of higher education in supporting the recovery of disaster-affected communities in NTT.