UNAIR NEWS – The BRILiaN Village Program 2025 officially launched on Friday, May 2, 2025, with the Kick-Off for Batch 1, bringing together representatives from selected villages across Indonesia. Held virtually via Zoom, the event marked the beginning of a structured training and empowerment initiative spearheaded by PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BRI) in collaboration with Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR).
The program is a concrete step toward transforming rural communities into smart, self-sustaining villages equipped with strong capabilities and competitive advantages. Its primary audience includes village officials and managers of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDesa) who are eager to foster innovative and sustainable local development.
During the opening ceremony, BRI’s Senior Executive Vice President Muhammad Candra Utama emphasized that the BRILiaN Village Program supports the Indonesian government’s Asta Cita agenda, especially in rural development aimed at reducing poverty and promoting economic equity. He explained that the program centers on four key pillars: strengthening BUMDesa as the village economic driver; advancing digital transformation in village operations; promoting sustainable, resilient village growth; and fostering local innovation through creative solutions.
The Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration (Kemendes PDTT) also endorsed the initiative. A ministry representative stated that the program aligns with the national strategy for development based on local potential, positioning villages as emerging hubs of economic activity.
Representing the Rector of UNAIR, Dr. Eko Supeno, Drs., M.Si., reiterated the university’s commitment to community development. He noted that UNAIR’s participation reflects higher education’s vital role in supporting village autonomy and digitalization. “Collaboration and innovation are the cornerstones for building empowered and independent rural communities,” he remarked.
The 2025 BRILiaN Village Program Batch 1 will unfold in two phases. The first phase includes online training that covers core topics such as village governance, digitalization, financial and marketing management, and local potential and challenge mapping. Participants will complete assignments as part of the assessment process. From this phase, 15 top-performing villages will be selected to receive targeted mentoring from academics and professional practitioners.
Since its launch, the BRILiaN Village Program has reached over 4,300 villages by the end of 2024. Among the thriving sectors developed through the program are tourism (1,215 villages), services (1,020 villages), manufacturing (974 villages), trade (500 villages), and agriculture, plantations, and livestock.
Through its collaborative and sustainable framework, the BRILiaN Village Program 2025 aspires to create exemplary villages that can serve as models for rural transformation across Indonesia.
Author: Khefti Al Mawalia
