In 1960, rural population made up 85 percent of the countrys total population, but now the proportion has decreased to only 50 percent, rector of the state Gajahmada University (UGM) Professor Dwikorita Karnawati said.
Poverty rate is higher in rural areas creating imbalance in economic condition, Dwikorita said when asked about the plan of the university to develop rural areas.
"Therefore, UGM is called on to develop rural areas as a backbone of the countrys community life," the professor said.
She said if the imbalance is not properly redressed more young people would leave their villages to venture in big cities.
There are plans to build smart cities , but there has been no one to think of developing rural areas and build smart villages in this country of 260 million people or the fourth largest in the world, she said.
"This is the scenario of UGM to adopt education, research and dedication to the people to strengthen the Indonesian capacity," she said.
In addition, the professor stressed the importance of innovation and development of technology as the driver of global including national economy.
"That is the reasons prompting UGM to seek collaboration with supporting agents including government institutions, investors or technology developers," she said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
