IPB University, or the Institut Pertanian Bogor, was founded in 1963, as a state-run agricultural university with the aim of strengthening food security, promoting bioenergy, protecting the regional environment and alleviating poverty. It is the only state university with a focus on tropical agriculture and life sciences – and is world-renowned in this field.
Based in the city of Bogor, Indonesia, it is approximately 60km from the capital city, Jakarta. IPB University comprises five campuses: Baranangsiang, Dramaga, Gunung Gede, Cilibende and Taman Kencana. There is a research centre, university farm, animal hospital, student dormitory and library.
It has nine faculties: agriculture, veterinary medicine, fishery and marine science, animal science, forestry, agriculture technology and engineering, mathematics and natural science, economics and management and, most recently, the faculty of human ecology.
The faculty of human ecology focuses on nutritional sciences, family and consumer sciences and communication and community development sciences. It is Indonesia’s first and only faculty of this kind and is one of three in South-east Asia.
A seed centre is being developed at Leuwikopo, Bogor to solve Indonesia’s seed shortages and reduce the need for importation. As well as developing agricultural and plantation seeds, it will also focus on animal husbandry and fishery.
IPB University has worked to develop and maintain links with foreign universities such as the University of Wisconsin, the University of Tokyo, the University of Adelaide and the University of Gottingen.
Notable alumni include the sixth Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and several ministers of agriculture for Indonesia.
Known as “The City of Rain” because of its high annual rainfall, Bogor City is a popular summer resort. The most popular attraction is the Bogor Botanical Gardens, which is home to 15,000 plants from all over the globe.