USU Hosts ICoPoF 2026, Strengthening Global Collaboration in Population and Family Development
USU Hosts ICoPoF 2026, Strengthening Global Collaboration in Population and Family Development
Published by
Raisha Andini
Published at
Thursday, 16 July 2026
”ICoPoF 2026 merupakan bagian dari komitmen tersebut. Kami juga meyakini bahwa konferensi ini menyediakan wadah yang penting untuk mempertemukan para peneliti, pembuat kebijakan, praktisi, dan mitra internasional dalam bertukar gagasan, berbagi pengalaman, serta memperkuat kolaborasi yang berkontribusi terhadap kebijakan kependudukan dan pembangunan keluarga berbasis bukti melalui penelitian,” jelas Prof. Muryanto dalam konferensi tersebut.
USU Public Relations – Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) hosted The 1st International Conference on Population and Family Development (ICoPoF) 2026 on Thursday (July 16, 2026), at the DLCB Building, 8th Floor, USU Campus.
The conference was officially opened by the Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara, Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., together with the Secretary of the Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga) and Principal Secretary of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), Prof. Budi Setiyono, Ph.D., as well as the Deputy for Population Control at the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN, Dr. Eng. Bonivasius Prasetya Ichtiarto.
The conference was jointly organized by USU and the Ministry of Population and Family Development/National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN). It was designed as a forum that brings together academics, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from Indonesia and abroad to discuss contemporary challenges in population dynamics and family development.
Carrying the theme, "Strengthening Population and Family Development to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," ICoPoF 2026 aims to bridge academic research with government policy needs. The conference supports Indonesia's national development priorities while contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., emphasized that sustainable development depends not only on economic growth or technological advancement but also on the quality of human resources, resilient families, and inclusive public policies. Therefore, collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and countries is no longer optional—it is essential.
"ICoPoF 2026 reflects this commitment. We believe this conference provides an important platform for researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and international partners to exchange ideas, share experiences, and strengthen collaboration in developing evidence-based policies on population and family development through research," Prof. Muryanto stated during the conference.
He further explained that the scientific studies presented during the conference could serve as a foundation for the formulation of evidence-based policies, while also generating strategic recommendations that contribute meaningfully to population and family development in Indonesia.
"As we face increasingly complex demographic transitions, we need policies grounded in strong scientific evidence, multidisciplinary perspectives, and close partnerships among government, universities, and development organizations," he added.
Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga) and Principal Secretary of BKKBN, Prof. Budi Setiyono, Ph.D., stated that the conference serves to align government initiatives with perspectives from academia and the wider community.
"This conference on Population and Family Development is intended to harmonize the efforts of the government, academia, and society. The government is currently preparing the Grand Design for Population Development (DBPK) and the Population Development Roadmap (PJPK). These two documents will serve as the engineering design for modern population governance in Indonesia to support the realization of Golden Indonesia 2045," said Prof. Budi.
On the same occasion, the Director of Partnerships and Internationalization at USU, Prof. Dr. dr. Dewi Masyithah Darlan, DAP&E, MPH, Sp.ParK., explained that the conference was a follow-up to the initiative of the Higher Education Consortium for Population Development (PTPK), established through collaboration between the Ministry of Population and Family Development and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology to strengthen the role of universities in supporting evidence-based population policies.
"We hope this conference will produce concrete scientific recommendations that go beyond academic publications and make tangible contributions to strengthening population development and family resilience in Indonesia as we move toward Golden Indonesia 2045," she said.
This year's ICoPoF was attended by 86 participants, consisting of 34 in-person participants and 52 virtual participants. The participants represented 16 universities and six government institutions and organizations from Indonesia and abroad, reflecting the conference's growing international reach and collaborative spirit.
