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Tag: Indonesia

Farming Smarter, Not Harder: USU Alumni’s Start-Up Project for Smart Farming Equipment

Posted on by Editorial Team

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 engendered major technological changes in Indonesia’s agriculture to boost production yields by prioritizing effectiveness and efficiency in various fields that support the sector. This incentivizes various innovations for agricultural products: new tools, new processing techniques, and new management procedures.

Some fresh graduates of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Dwi Budi Prasetyo, Rizki Ari Mihalza, Intan Dewani, and Rico Wardana, teamed up to brainstorm a contribution to this developing urgency. All three are members of a start-up called Mandike Instruments, which specializes in technology and education.

The team came up with a piece of innovative equipment that is projected to increase work efficiency for farmers called Smart Farming. The equipment is designed to be portable and easily assembled, with sensor nodes and gateways as well as unique applications that are continuously refined and updated.

According to Dwi Budi Prasetyo, CEO of Mandike Instruments, Smart Farming monitors and determines the degree of acidity, temperature, rainfall, humidity, and weather conditions in an area that will be used for agriculture.
“Knowing these can aid farmers in measuring the most efficient amount of fertilizers for agricultural activities, as excessive fertilizers can damage the nutrients in the agricultural land. In addition, knowing the soil fertility level and determining the types of plants suitable for development will also increase the efficiency of farmers’ expenditures,” Dwi said.

Dwi stated that the accompanying application for Smart Farming is currently at the testing and refinement stage.

“We want this tool to be really effective in helping farmers. Thus, the trials cannot be done in one or two times. We must conduct it many times to obtain the right result,” he added.

Regarding whether Smart Farming will be sold in limited quantities or mass-produced, Dwi admits that he has yet to decide because it will be discussed with the commissioners of CV Mandike. In addition to assessing prices, consumer capabilities and market acceptance, which farmers dominate, will influence their start-up’s capability.

Dwi emphasized that they are considering developing and manufacturing delicately, as the equipment was intended to help farmers without burdening them with additional costs. Increasing the amount of capital farmers need will affect the selling price of their agricultural products. They are currently planning a collaborative trial run for the equipment with government and private stakeholders.

The team hopes to strengthen the collaboration between CV Mandike and USU agricultural alumni to engineer and innovate other tools for use in the farming sector. Being holders of degrees in Electrical Engineering from USU, the team is optimistic that their collaboration can benefit each other to increase the research and development output, manufacture, and market and publicity outreach with the academic institution.

USU Advances Technology Adaptation in Rural Areas

Posted on by Fotarisman Zaluchu

The Public Administration Program (Prodi IAP) of the Faculty of Social Science and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) is actively working to enhance technological adaptation in rural areas. Over the past three years, the Public Administration Program has collected various data, which has been organized into village profiles, village sketches, and village videos. The results of these efforts have been compiled into a village website. The creation on the village website is a progressive step to prepare villages for current technological advancements. In Indonesia, with over 80 thousand villages, only a few have their own websites. USU presence will accelerate rural development, especially in areas within USU reach, where the university has the capability to build websites.

The launch of the village website and training on its utilization took place in in Tanjung Putus Village, Langkat Regency, Indonesia.

Higher education, in this case, the Public Administration Program, plays a strategic role in advancing villages or village governments. Faculty members and students actively engage in solving issues within the village. The launch of this website is one concrete manifestation of the Universitas Sumatera Utara responsibility to the surrounding community, as said by Dra. Februati Trimurni, M.Si, Ph.D. Over three years, the IAP Program regularly dispatched students for field activities, supported by expert faculty members. These activities were conducted within the framework of research and community service, formally part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between USU and Langkat Regency.

Training for creating the village website involved instructing village officials to proficiently input data into the website. Additionally, village activities, documented through videos or photos, were trained to be uploaded to the website. Even village regulations were displayed on the website for easy dissemination to all villagers. Training participants were also equipped with skills for independently managing the website. The village website will facilitate access to important information and data, simultaneously promoting the village on a broader stage.

The Head of the IAP Program added that Indonesia is currently promoting rural development, with state funds allocated to empower villages, especially in infrastructure. However, USU provides soft skills intervention, aiming to incorporate information technology into villages for broader benefits to the community. She also emphasize that USU plays an important role so that national government policies can be implemented more quickly and effectively. USU plan to train other villages to have similar advantages, enabling them to introduce themselves globally because they have their own websites. This is how USU contributes to realizing a global village for the benefit of rural communities and the global progress of humanity.

Smartphone for Safety: Improving Fishing Boat Stability with Kora-kora Apps

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

Indonesia is one of the top three countries globally for fisher fatalities. With around 2.2 million fishers and over 600,000 fishing vessels in Indonesia, this is a huge problem to address. This is mainly due to fishing vessels that are unsuited to the prevailing sea conditions with poor stability, a lack of watertight integrity, and an inability to control flooding. Indonesian fishermen often lack the necessary equipment and knowledge to assess the stability of their fishing boats, leading them to frequently operate in unsafe conditions and experience preventable accidents.

The existence of this problem prompted collaboration among Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), University College London (UCL), Universitas Pattimura (UNPATTI), and Orela Shipyard to conduct research about the safety of ship stability located in Ambon. The research team includes Prof. I Ketut Aria Pria Utama and Mr. Dony Setiawan from ITS, Prof Giles Thomas and Dr Andrea Grech La Rosa from UCL, Dr. Wolter Roberth Hetharia from Unpatti, and Mr. Soegeng Riyadi from Orela Shipyard. The project also involved students from ITS and Unpatti.

The study spans from 2021 to 2023 and is supported by the Newton Fund. The project developed an application (Apps) called \”Kora-Kora\”, named after a local warship. Kora-Kora is designed to be used in a practical, easy, and accessible way. Using a cellphone’s accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, Kora-Kora can automatically read the ship’s movements and give signals about the ship’s condition using color. Fishermen only need to install the apps, ensure their battery is fully charged for use as a ship stability device, and can operate without an internet connection. The application will give a green signal if the ship is considered safe and if it is in danger, the signal will be changed into red. Notably, the research results will be shared freely to public (in this case, fishermen) and will not be patented.

The project has received “the 2023 RINA-LR Maritime Safety Award” a prestigious award or prize sponsored by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and the Lloyd Register of Shipping (LR). The research team still work to improve the Apps to make it better and more attractive hence can be use more easily.

Universitas Airlangga signs MoU with Princess Naradhiwas University Thailand

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Universitas Airlangga has engaged in numerous collaborations to boost the internationalization of academic activities within the campus environment. In its latest endeavor, UNAIR signed an MoU to collaborate with Princess Naradhiwas University, Thailand on Tuesday, Feb 20, 2024, in the Plenary Meeting Room, Balairua Management Office, MERR C Campus, Universitas Airlangga.

The Rector of Universitas Airlangga, Prof Dr. Mohammad Nasih SE MT Ak, and the vice-rectors and deans attended the proceeding. Asst Prof Dr. Preecha Salaemae, President of Princess Naradhiwas University, along with representatives and students engaged in student exchange programs at UNAIR, were also present.

Global education endeavor

In his address, Prof Nasih conveyed UNAIR’s aspiration to foster international cooperation. The international collaborations will offer new opportunities and insights for the universities and academic communities involved.

“International cooperation of this nature is a testament to our (UNAIR) commitment to realizing global education. Besides collaborating in academic fields such as student exchanges or research publications, we also aim to create programs such as community development,” stated Prof Nasih.

Furthermore, Prof Nasih expressed gratitude to Princess Naradhiwas University for their willingness to collaborate with the Universitas Airlangga. “As we embark on this collaboration, we are hopeful that it will yield significant benefits for both institutions. We aspire to see the agreements outlined in the MoU effectively realized,” Prof Nasih stated.

Future prospects

Asst Prof Dr. Preecha Salaemae, President of Princess Naradhiwas University, also extended his gratitude to UNAIR. “We feel honored to have been invited to Surabaya. It marks a promising beginning for academic collaboration, and we hope to effectively implement the agreements outlined in this MoU,” Prof Preecha replied.

A representative from Airlangga Global Engagement, Dina Septiani PhD, then outlined the collaborative opportunities that could be realized by UNAIR and Princess Naradhiwas University. These opportunities include student and faculty exchanges, research collaboration, and joint publications.

“In 2022, UNAIR also visited Princess Naradhiwas University and engaged in student exchanges several times, one of which involved the Faculty of Nursing. Therefore, I believe this collaboration will proceed smoothly in the future,” concluded Dina.

The achievements of IPB University alumni in various sectors

Posted on by Editorial Team

The contributions/roles of IPB University alumni have a significant influence on various policies and academic backgrounds. They not only offer changes for Indonesia but also have an extraordinary impact internationally.

There is Mohammad Nabil Almunawar, an academic at the University of Brunei Darussalam holding the title of Associate Professor. Nabil migrated to Brunei in July 1999: https://www.alumniipbpedia.id/post/mohammad-nabil-almunawar, also read here: https://www.kemlu.go.id/bandarseribegawan/en/news/21148/congratulations-and-success-to-madya-professor-dr-haji-mohammad-nabil-almunawar. He is a lecturer and an IPB University alumnus who received an award from the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam for his ideas and education he taught which had a broad impact in the Sultanate of Brunei.

Additionally, there is Yurdi Yasmi, an alumnus with a significant position in the UN as the Deputy Head of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for Africa. His involvement in driving food self-sufficiency and poverty alleviation is on here: https://www.alumniipbpedia.id/post/kuasai-empat-bahasa-asing-pernah-kunjungi-45-negara, further details: https://www.fao.org/africa/deputy-representative/zh/.U He is entrusted with ensuring food security and plays a crucial role in creating superior and highly nutritious rice varieties.

Another IPB University alumnus, Suryo Pratomo, is entrusted as the Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore. His active roles include pushing for Indonesia’s chairmanship of the G-20 in the Indonesia-Singapore Business Forum. The interesting journey of this livestock scholar-turned-ambassador is on here: https://www.alumniipbpedia.id/post/suryopratomo and https://www.antaranews.com/tag/dubes-ri-untuk-singapura-suryo-pratomo, also check out https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20231217193735-4-498047/duta-besar-ri-kek-peluang-datangkan-modal-asing when he struggled to attract investments from various countries to invest in Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

In domestic affairs, there is Kamaruddin Batubara who received the MURI Record for initiating the Ready-to-Occupy Home Program through Cooperatives. Read about his achievements: https://www.radarbanten.co.id/2017/07/18/kisah-kamaruddin-batubara-peraih-penghargaan-bhakti-koperasi-dari-tangerang/. He’s also known for consistently upholding the dignity of cooperatives that implement solidarity and mutual cooperation principles. His roles can be found here: https://disway.id/read/665285/rekonstruksi-ruu-ppsk-dalam-menjamin-kemurnian-prinsip-nilai-dan-jati-diri-koperasi. He remains consistent in building a real people’s economy concept and offering it for the sake of public housing.

Do not forget the contribution of Bambang Hendroyono, the Secretary General of KLHK, who oversees the quality of forestry policies. Check out his story: https://www.alumniipbpedia.id/post/bambang-hendroyono, where he protects national forests and is deemed worthy of being the Chairman of the National Forestry Council (DKN): https://www.antaranews.com/berita/3580854/bambang-hendroyono-jabat-ketua-presidium-dewan-kehutanan-nasional. His role is crucial in ensuring legal certainty, business certainty, and community rights over forest resources, to promote effective forestry policies. Under his leadership, KLHK has achieved many successes: https://mediaindonesia.com/humaniora/548038/sekjen-bambang-hendroyono-raih-berbagai-penghargaan-bukti-kinerja-klhk.

From the banking sector, get to know Achmad Syamsudin: https://www.alumniipbpedia.id/post/achmad-syamsudin. He is known for various achievements in leading financial institutions: https://bangka.tribunnews.com/2022/11/02/direktur-utama-bank-sumsel-babel-raih-top-100-ceo-of-the-year-2022. Under his leadership, this regional bank has achieved outstanding performance: https://bangka.tribunnews.com/2022/07/01/bank-sumsel-babel-raih-the-best-overall-performance-di-infobank-service-excellence-award. With determination, he brings economic prosperity to the region through banking: https://bangka.tribunnews.com/2022/12/22/bank-sumsel-babel-kembali-raih-penghargaan-trusted-company, and his contributions are appreciated by many parties.

As Indonesia aims to become a global halal product producer by 2024, this woman consistently develops the global halal economy. Dr. Nancy Dewi Yuliana, a researcher from IPB University’s Halal Research Institute, has been recognized for her efforts: https://kl.antaranews.com/berita/15933/15-wanita-indonesia-berkontribusi-kembangkan-ekonomi-halal-dunia. She was awarded the 2nd Best PATPI Award for Academic Achievement and is involved in disseminating ideas through publications in reputable international and national journals: https://bogorupdate.com/bogor-raya/hebat-tiga-dosen-ipb-university-ini-sabet-patpi-award-2021/. She explores the application of metabolomics in the food science field and technology, and halal authentication.

ITS Launched the First Production of EVITS, ITS’ Latest Electrical Motorbike

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) has recently launched the first production of an electric motorbike called EVITS as a result of innovation to provide clean and eco-friendly energy for Indonesia. ITS through PT ITS Tekno Sains in collaboration with PT Panggung Electric Citrabuana inaugurated the first production of EVITS electric motorbikes on Thursday, 21 December 2023 at PT Panggung Electric Citrabuana.

The Rector of ITS, Prof. Mochamad Ashari, revealed that this cooperation is important. Universities today are no longer limited tornteaching but are also expected to implement their innovations into commercial products, providing economic value to all parties, including the community. Dr. I Ketut Gunarta, Director of PT ITS Tekno Sains, stated that reaching this point required extra effort and involved various stages of research, taking almost a year. This effort resulted in the birth of the first generation of EVITS, the EVITS TS-1, to address various consumer needs. EVITS is an electric motorbike equipped with an ergonomic design and good acceleration capabilities,providing comfort for the rider. It is also equipped with a battery that provides a range of up to 60 kilometers.

As of now, PT ITS Tekno Sains is developing three other types of electric motorbikes that have entered the initial development stage.All those three types of motorbike are planned to be launched in 2024. As the supply management of the production of EVITS, PT Panggung Electric Citrabuana was thrilled and proud to be able to bring environmentally friendly products to the community. It is expected that this cooperation can bring a beneficial impact to Indonesia.

French Embassy opens opportunities for collaboration with UNAIR

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Universitas Airlangga is collaborating with the French Embassy in Indonesia. On Wednesday, January 24, 2024, a meeting was convened at the Plenary Hall, Balairua, MERR-C Campus, to discuss plans for educational cooperation with French universities and industries.

Antoine Bricout, Attaché for University and Education of the French Embassy in Indonesia, and Sandra Vivier, Director of the Institut Français D’indonésie (IFI) Surabaya, were among the guests. Prof. Muhammad Miftahussurur, Vice Rector for Internationalization, Digitalization, and Information, and Prof. Dr. Bambang Sektiari Lukiswanto, Vice Rector for Academic, Student Affairs, and Alumni, both represented UNAIR at the forum.

Prof Bambang explained that UNAIR has currently partnered with 13 universities in France. UNAIR engages in various agreements, such as Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and Letter of Agreement (LA). Each agreement discusses various aspects, ranging from scholarship opportunities to study and campus fair expos.

Prof Miftah explained the comprehensive collaboration planning involving faculties and institutions, including the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline, Faculty of Psychology, Faculty of Vocational Studies, Universitas Airlangga Hospital, and the Airlangga Global Engagement. The focus covers research collaboration, joint publication, staff and student mobility programs, guest lectures, IISMA preparation programs, and LPDP scholarships.

“We would like to solidify our collaborative plans with Sciences Po, Kedge Business School, Université de Caen, and Universite Paris Cité. We hope these plans will include the establishment of a joint Indonesia-France working group for 2024,” he said.

Bricout welcomed this collaborative endeavor as a strategic chance to deepen Indonesia’s long-standing connection with France. He also mentioned internship opportunities at hospitals, particularly at the Faculty of Medicine, which provide competitive salaries and promising career prospects.

He also encouraged other UNAIR faculties to connect with French universities. These prospects require not only competence in their disciplines but also mastery of the French language. “Language is extremely important,” he emphasized.

Dr Sri Fatmawati Recognized as First Woman in Indonesia as 2023 Young Affiliate by UNESCO’s The World Academic of Sciences

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

In a significant recognition for Indonesian scientist, Dr. Sri Fatmawati from Department of Chemistry at ITS, has been honored as a Young Affiliate by UNESCO’s The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in 2023, highlighting her exceptional work in natural products research. The distinction offers promising prominent researchers from developing nations, like Dr. Fatmawati with invaluable connections and opportunities for professional development within the global scientific community.

TWAS, in collaboration with its Regional Partners, annually selects up to 25 scientists under the age of 40 from developing nations as Young Affiliates. These individuals, distinguished by a minimum of 10 international publications and a demonstrated potential for impactful careers, are granted a six-year tenure filled with opportunities for networking, collaboration, and participation in prestigious events such as the TWAS General Meeting.

Dr. Fatmawati’s selection underscores her pioneering research in natural products, spanning herbal plants from 27 provinces of Indonesia and unveiling novel insights that promise transformative impacts on traditional herbal medicine known as ‘Jamu’. As the researcher-in-charge of ITS Djamoe, a transformative production of Jamu from the Natural Products and Synthetic Chemistry Laboratory, her work notably centered on the exploration of indigenous plants for medicinal purposes, embodies a new frontier in harnessing the rich biodiversity of Indonesia for the betterment of society.

As a TWAS Young Affiliate, Dr. Fatmawati looks forward to forging collaborations with esteemed TWAS Fellows, exploring avenues for joint projects, and contributing to the advancement of natural products research on a global scale. With her participation in the annual TWAS meetings and access to a vast network of scholars and policymakers, she envisions catalyzing meaningful change in traditional healthcare development.

Capitalizing on Potential: Catfish Farming Empowerment by University of North Sumatra

Posted on by Maryam Mazaya

Empowering teenage groups to improve the local economy has become a focus for lecturers at the University of North Sumatra. Led by Dra. Lina Sudarwati, M.Si., a group of lecturers organized a catfish farming training session on unused land.

The participants, teenagers from mosques in Kisaran City, North Sumatra, were introduced to practical knowledge about pond preparation, catfish breeding, and the distribution of catfish seeds into the grow-out ponds. This initiative aims to utilize abandoned excavation ponds, previously used for brick-making but now neglected, for sustainable programs to enhance the local economy.

The program provided by Universitas Sumatera Utara specifically from the Faculty of Social and Political Science includes training in catfish farming and offers equipment and initial catfish seeds as the starting capital for participants. Around 8000 catfish seeds were distributed, spread across four designated ponds. Additionally, alongside the catfish farming program, the mosque teenagers were introduced to marketplace applications for marketing their agricultural products online.

The implementation of the catfish farming empowerment activity has been warmly welcomed by residents in the area. Paidi, a community figure, expressed his support, stating, “This program is very beneficial for our mosque teenagers. So far, they have often struggled to find jobs or business opportunities. With this catfish farming, we hope they can have their source of income and contribute more to the community”.

Dra. Lina Sudarwati, M.Si., emphasized that implementing catfish farming empowerment will benefit the local community and raise awareness about the importance of sustainability in catfish farming to support environmental conservation efforts. This initiative not only provides economic opportunities for teenagers but also contributes to the overall well-being and environmental consciousness of the region.

#UniversitasSumateraUtara #FISIPUSU #FakultasIlmuSosialdanPolitik #USU

USU Lecturer Concerned on the Extinction of Tapanuli Orangutan

Posted on by Editorial Team

Onrizal, S.Hut, M.Si., Ph.D., a Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara lecturer, was born and raised in Tapanuli, North Sumatra. The Tapanuli region is home to a particular species of orangutan, the Pongo tapanuliensis, which Onrizal still remembers was mentioned in local folklore as the ‘short man’ of the forest, who disappeared from the forest in the 1970s. The story remains relevant to the current reality about the orangutans in Tapanuli: these creatures have long vanished from the region’s forest.

Working together with Erik Meijaard, an assistant professor on the conversation from the University of Kent, UK, Onrizal published their study titled “The historical range and drivers of decline of the Tapanuli orangutan,” published in a Q1 Scopus-indexed journal PLOS ONE. The team scoured historical records for references to the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis). This species is the newest orangutan and is listed as the most endangered great ape in the world. The Tapanuli orangutan faces a much greater risk of extinction than previously thought.

Today, the Tapanuli orangutan is estimated to occupy only 2.5% of their historical habitat, and the threat of extinction is linked to habitat loss and hunting. This threat persists today and is exacerbated by infrastructure development and forest conversion in the last habitat of the Tapanuli orangutan in North Sumatra. According to the researchers, with habitat shrinking and hunting, the extinction of the Tapanuli orangutan is inevitable.

As stated in the study, less than 800 individual Tapanuli orangutans live in the Batang Toru forest, North Sumatra. The remaining habitat is estimated to cover only 2.5% of the range in which they lived about 130 years ago when researchers discovered them. That number shrank from nearly 41,000 km2 in the 1890s, to just 1,000 km2 in 2016.

To arrive at these figures, the researchers referred to colonial-era literature, such as newspapers, journals, books, and museum records, from the early 1800s to 2019 by using location-specific keywords such as “Sumatra”, “Batang Toeroe,” and “Tapanoeli,” with Dutch spelling then cross-referenced them with terms that specifically refer to orangutans used commonly in historical literature.

The researchers found that the Tapanuli orangutan historically inhabited a much wider area at a lower altitude than the Batang Toru mountain forest they occupy today. Much of this historical habitat was lost in the 1950s to smallholder agriculture before industrial-scale plantation development in Sumatra emerged in the 1970s. The combination of historical fragmentation of forest habitat and unsustainable hunting is likely to push them from the lowland forest areas, where they used to live, to the upland forests of the Batang Toru ecosystem.

The researchers think that it is likely that Pongo tapanuliensis was hunted to extinction in an increasingly fragmented part of its former home range. They survive in the remote and rocky Batang Toru Mountains which may have protected orangutans from hunting. These findings show that the Tapanuli orangutan is not a species specifically adapted to live in the highlands as some scientists claim.

Map of Sumatra Island showing the current distribution of Pongo tapanuliensis and Pongo abelii, as well as the main areas mentioned in the study. This finding raises concerns over the survival of the Tapanuli orangutan. It is estimated that fewer than 800 of these orangutans live in the Batang Toru forest, divided among three connected subpopulations.

The Tapanuli orangutan species face conflicting threats of hunting and killing, as well as habitat loss due to agriculture and plantations. New threats have also emerged, namely infrastructure development and the construction of hydropower roads, which have caused fragmentation of the remaining habitat of the Tapanuli orangutan.

Conservation experts say the most severe threat currently comes from the Batang Toru hydroelectric power plant. The construction of this hydropower plant is considered to endanger the connectivity between orangutan subpopulations in the west, east, and south. This fragmentation would cut the diversity of the orangutan gene pool dramatically, leading to inbreeding, disease, and, eventually, each subpopulation to extinction.

The researchers calculated that more than one percent of adult orangutans disappear from the wild per year, either being killed, translocated, or captured. With that data, extinction is inevitable, regardless of the initial population size.

Without further rescue efforts, the researchers estimated that this species could become extinct in the next few generations. The ongoing fragmentation of the Batang Toru forest only exacerbates this risk. Onrizal called on all stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, scientists, donors, local community representatives, and industry, to develop concrete action plans as soon as possible for the survival of this species.