IPB University Successfully Hosts 7th Nutrition Summer Course: Focus on Maternal and Child Nutrition Programs in Indonesia
The Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Human Ecology (Fema) at IPB University successfully organized the 7th IPB Nutrition Summer Course 2024, themed ‘Maternal and Child Nutrition Programs in Indonesia’. This five-day event involved nutrition experts, academics, and practitioners from various universities and international institutions.
This prestigious event provided a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences in maternal and child nutrition, a critical issue in global and national health policies.
The event was inaugurated by Dr Tin Herawati, Chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (IKK) at IPB University. She emphasized the importance of this program as part of efforts to improve the quality of life for the Indonesian population through comprehensive nutrition education, particularly for mothers and children.
Dr Sofyan Sjaf, Dean of Fema at IPB University, expressed his appreciation to the participants and speakers who contributed to the event. He stated, “Collaboration among universities and institutions, both nationally and internationally, is vital to addressing global nutrition challenges, especially in the context of maternal and child health in Indonesia.”
Prof Katrin Roosita, Chair of the Department of Community Nutrition, expressed hope that participants would learn from the experiences of nutrition experts both from Indonesia and abroad and would be able to collaborate on programs related to maternal and child nutrition.
She noted that the event featured several prominent speakers from various national and international institutions specializing in nutrition. These experts provided presentations and led interactive discussions on national nutrition programs for mothers and children, initiatives by international organizations in Indonesia, health policies, and the food industry’s contributions to improving maternal and child nutrition in the country.
“The 7th IPB Nutrition Summer Course 2024 is expected to continue in the future with more international collaborations. The topic of maternal and child nutrition will remain a primary focus in efforts to enhance the quality of life for future generations, and IPB University is committed to facilitating such initiatives to support these goals,” stated Prof Katrin.
Participants in this event came not only from Indonesia but also from various universities across Southeast Asia, including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universitas Satya Wacana, University Sultan Zainal Abidin, University of the Philippines Los Baños, University of Niigata Prefecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universitas Airlangga, and Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.
Additionally, participants were invited to visit several locations relevant to the theme of the summer course, including PT Bogor Life Science and Technology – Serambi Botani, Agriananda IPB, Rumah Tempe Indonesia, Puskesmas Cangkurawok, and Kampung Wisata Cinangneng.
These visits provided practical insights into the implementation of nutrition programs in the field and showcased innovations by local industries in supporting community nutrition improvement. A highlight of the visit was to Rumah Tempe Indonesia, where participants observed firsthand how tempe production, as an affordable and nutritious protein source, can support the nutritional needs of mothers and children. (*/Lp) (IAAS/RUM)