434 village heads join UI program to strengthen villages, curb urban drift
The July 13-16 training brings participants from 149 regencies in 32 provinces, with a focus on village management and administration.
A total of 434 village heads are taking part in the second batch of the Kepala Desa Masuk Kampus Program at Universitas Indonesia in Depok, aimed at strengthening village management capacity and slowing the flow of urbanization. The program, opened by Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian, runs July 13-16, 2026 and includes participants from 291 districts in 149 regencies across 32 provinces. Tito said stronger villages can create jobs, add to economic output and make villages more financially self-reliant. Participants are being trained in managerial and administrative skills, as well as innovative and creative thinking. Tito said strengthening villages is important because 56 percent of Indonesia's population lives in cities, while 44 percent still lives in rural areas.