IPB University Successfully Hosts the 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 conducted the 7th IPB Nutrition Summer Course 2024, themed ‘Maternal and Child Nutrition Programs in Indonesia’. The five-day event brought together nutrition experts, academics, and practitioners from various universities and international institutions.

This prestigious event provided a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences in the field of maternal and child nutrition, a critical issue within both global and national health policies.

The event was opened by Dr. Tin Herawati, Head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (IKK) at IPB University. She emphasized the importance of this program as part of the effort to improve the quality of life for Indonesian society through comprehensive nutrition education, particularly for mothers and children.

Dr. Sofyan Sjaf, Dean of Fema IPB University, expressed his appreciation to the participants and speakers who contributed to the event. He stated, “Collaboration between universities and institutions at both national and international levels is essential to address global nutrition challenges, especially in the context of maternal and child health in Indonesia.”

Meanwhile, Prof. Katrin Roosita, Head of the Department of Community Nutrition, encouraged participants to learn from the experiences of nutrition experts, both local and international, and 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 and universities who are experts in nutrition. The speakers presented and led interactive discussions on national maternal and child nutrition programs, international organizations’ nutrition initiatives in Indonesia, health policies, and the food industry’s role in improving maternal and child nutrition in Indonesia.

“The 7th IPB Nutrition Summer Course 2024 is expected to continue in the future with even more international collaborations. Maternal and child nutrition will remain a primary focus as we strive to improve the quality of life for future generations, and IPB University is committed to facilitating such initiatives to support this goal,” stated Prof. Katrin.

Participants in this event came from not only Indonesia but also from various universities in Southeast Asia, including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Satya Wacana Christian University, Sultan Zainal Abidin University, University of the Philippines Los Baños, University of Niigata Prefecture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Airlangga University, and the Indonesian University of Education.

In addition, participants were invited to visit several locations relevant to the summer course theme, including PT Bogor Life Science and Technology – Serambi Botani, Agriananda IPB, Rumah Tempe Indonesia, Cangkurawok Community Health Center, and Cinangneng Tourism Village.

These visits provided practical insights into the implementation of nutrition programs on the ground, as well as innovations by local industries in supporting community nutrition. A highlight of these visits was Rumah Tempe Indonesia, where participants observed firsthand how tempeh production—a high-protein and affordable source—can support the nutritional needs of mothers and children. *(*/LP; AHM)*