Bojonegoro Regency, under the leadership of Dr. Hj. Anna Mu'awanah, in collaboration with Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta and Universitas Negeri Surabaya, implemented an educational partnership through the Recognition of Prior Learning  (RPL) Program  scheme. This program is part of the Bojonegoro Regent's commitment to improving the quality of human resources in the village.

In line with this collaboration program, the Ministry of Villages. Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration encourages more education access through scholarships for RPL Desa(Village RPL). In addition, the ministry has coordinated with various universities. This step is an essential part of increasing human resources, which is the principal capital for accelerating village development, economic development, human resources, civilization, and culture. This was stated by the Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. (HC) Abdul Halim Iskandar, in the opening of a limited online and offline public lecture for RPL Desa program students Tuesday (29/3) at the UNY Auditorium.

Abdul Halim Iskandar stated that the Village RPL Program refers to several principles. First is the legality of the universities implementing the RPL program. Second, increasing access for village officials to have equal opportunities in pursuing higher education. Third, recognition of learning outcomes through equality. And finally, transparency and quality assurance under the assistance of the Ministry of Villages. Development of Disadvantaged Areas, and Transmigration. The RPL Desa program provides opportunities for further studies for bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral's degrees.

Regent of Bojonegoro, Dr. Hj. Anna Mu'awanah explained that through the Village RPL program, the work experience of various human resources in the village, such as the Village Head, Village Apparatus, Village Assistants, Village Owned Enterprise Management (BUMDesa), and Joint BUMDes Management, can be equalized or converted to some courses at the University. As a result, after going through the academic process, participants in the RPL program will receive academic degrees, ranging from Bachelor's, Master's, and even doctoral levels.

"The Village RPL program is carried out to support the acceleration of the implementation of village development and empowerment of rural communities to accelerate village progress and independence. Therefore, increasing the capacity of human resources in the village is the key to achieving the Village Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs Desa)," said Anna Mu'awanah.

In 2022, the Bojonegoro Regency Government has allocated the fund for various scholarship schemes of IDR 33.4 billion from its Regional Revenues and Expenditures Budget. The scholarship schemes are the Scientist Scholarship (IDR 11.62 billion for 81 students), the One Village Two Bachelor Scholarship (IDR 18.03 billion. for 1,803 students), and the Final Aid Scholarship (IDR 3.75 billion for 1,500 students).

UNY Rector, Prof. Sumaryanto said that UNY ready to collaborate to improve the educational qualifications of village human resources through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This program is part of the implementation of lifelong learning for village officials and activists. It is a form of a joint effort to make the village a center of progress with various programs and policies directed at integrated development toward a prosperous and self-sufficient Village.

In the inaugural lecture for participants of the RPL program, there were 457 students consisting of village heads, village officials, BUM Desa administrators, assistants, and other village activists from 419 villages in Bojonegoro Regency. These students continued their studies in 5 study programs, namely Public Administration (184 people), Management study program (138 people), Accounting study program (79 people), Sociology Education study program (38 people), and Non-Formal Education study program (18 people). One of the RPL students, Nur Hidayah, the village secretary of Sumberharjo, was happy to be accepted to study further at the undergraduate level at UNY. "I hope to study smoothly and graduate soon," she said. (Dedy, Tj. Lak)