Balikpapan, September 23, 2025 – The Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) held a Guest Lecture themed “Statistics as the Pillar of Data-Based Public Policy” at the Auditorium of Building A. The event took place on Monday (23/9) from 09.00 to 11.30 WITA, attended by students, lecturers, and representatives from local government institutions.

The program began with participant registration, followed by an official opening, the singing of Indonesia Raya, Hymne Balikpapan, and the ITK March. A prayer was then led to express gratitude and hope for a smooth and meaningful event.

In the opening remarks, the Head of the Balikpapan Communications and Information Agency (Erriansyah Haryono, S.Stp., M.A.P.) highlighted the importance of synergy among government, statistical institutions, and universities in building a strong data ecosystem. The Head of Balikpapan Statistics Agency (Marinda Dama Prianto, S.Si.) emphasized that statistics are not merely numbers but the foundation for precise policymaking. He also introduced the Desa Cantik (Desa Cinta Statistik) program as an innovative collaboration involving BPS, Diskominfo, and ITK’s Statistics Study Program. Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Information Technology ITK, Dr. Adi Mahmud Jaya Marinda, S.T., M.Eng., expressed appreciation for the collaboration and underlined the significance of the Statistical Corner as a student learning hub, as well as the role of ITK alumni in contributing to both governmental and private sectors.

The main lecture addressed the strategic role of statistics in public policy, covering the history of BPS, its key functions in conducting censuses and surveys, as well as the difference between nominal GDP (ADHB) and real GDP (ADHK). A local case study highlighted Balikpapan’s economic slowdown in 2024 due to contraction in the manufacturing sector, alongside the potential growth of accommodation, trade, and real estate industries. The issue of economic leakage was also raised, stressing the need to strengthen labor-intensive sectors and local production to support equitable income distribution.

At the national level, the case of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program was discussed as an initiative proven to boost the economy and create jobs. The speaker underlined that statistics are a fundamental pillar of evidence-based policy, enabling governments to understand societal conditions, identify problems, and design effective solutions.

An interactive Q&A session followed, with questions covering strategies to deal with reluctant survey respondents, the flow of GDP and GRDP data utilization in policymaking, as well as the challenges of conducting large-scale censuses. The speaker stressed the importance of effective communication, inter-agency coordination, and technical understanding of economic indicators.

The event concluded with the presentation of a certificate of appreciation to the guest speaker, Irma Fitria, S.Si., M.Si., followed by a group photo session and participant evaluation. The MC closed the program with gratitude to all parties and expressed hope that the lecture would inspire students to deepen their understanding of the strategic role of statistics in regional and national development.