The UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM) held the MIPA Business Gathering on Saturday, Jun. 6, 2024, at the Main Building of PT PLN (Persero) in Jakarta.
This event aimed to provide a discussion platform between academics from universities and practitioners from industry to strengthen collaborative research.
More than 100 partners from various industrial sectors, such as PT Pertamina (Persero), PT PLN (Persero), the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, GO Well Oilfield Technology, PT Matur Nuwun Nusantara, the Business Innovation Center, and other industries attended.
Dr. Fajar Adi Kusumo, the chair of the MIPA Business Gathering, stated to the press on Wednesday, Jul. 3, 2024, that employability or job competency issues are currently receiving attention from FMIPA UGM.
FMIPA UGM prioritizes preparing graduates to enter the workforce. To support this, FMIPA UGM must make various breakthroughs to establish cooperation between the campus, the business world, and industry.
“We organized this MIPA Business Gathering to open and strengthen the relationship between the campus, the business world, and industry. It aims to introduce campus issues that require synergy and collaboration from all parties,” explained Dr. Kusumo.
“Additionally, we want to showcase research products and campus innovations that can support the industry. We hope these products can be commercialized and benefit the government, industry, and society sectors.”
He also highlighted the need for closer communication between the campus and industry through several activities, including increasing the number of lecturers engaged in companies or industries.
This is crucial as it impacts the learning process and produces more adaptive students to industry needs. Furthermore, to enhance company employees’ competencies, FMIPA offers advanced study programs in master’s and doctorate degrees by research.
According to Dr. Kusumo, the advantage of these programs is the absence of residency requirements, which allows research to be conducted while still working in the company. Supervision is provided by FMIPA UGM lecturers and qualified company staff in specific fields.
Daniel Oscar Baskoro, Chief Project Officer of Smart City at the Nusantara Capital Authority and Chair of the FMIPA UGM Alumni Family (KAMIPAGAMA), also delivered a speech, stating that lecturers play a crucial role in conducting research for industry.
The industry will utilize the research results to refine its Research and Development (R&D) departments. Baskoro assured that FMIPA UGM is one of the industry’s strategic partners in advancing companies through R&D strengthening.
Alois Wisnuhardana, Senior Executive Vice President Corporate Secretary of PT PLN Persero and FMIPA UGM alumni revealed that PLN currently has the primary task of ensuring future generations have a better future by creating a sustainable environment.
“We are continuously developing Electric Vehicles and converting gas stoves to electric stoves, which certainly requires support from campus research to accelerate our R&D activities,” said Wisnuhardana.
Furthermore, he explained that PLN provides opportunities for students and alumni who want to contribute to the electrical industry through several channels, including collaboration with lecturers.
One such opportunity is the regular route with joint recruitment by BUMN and the pro-hire route, which requires a minimum education of master’s and doctorate to be placed in several PLN business lines.
This event encourages collaboration between universities and industry to impact Indonesia’s economic strengthening. It includes discussions divided into two panels.
The panels are a business gathering, and industry partner presentations are on “Why Innovation is a Survival Issue (for Indonesia, too).”
Panel 1 discussed the Potential Collaboration of FMIPA UGM Departments, moderated by Professor Kuwat Triyana, the Dean of FMIPA UGM.
Each department head presented potential collaborations, such as nanomaterial research and seismograph products from physics, industrial chemistry research, chemical waste management from chemistry, Smart Farming application research from computer science and electronics instrumentation, and cryptography research from mathematics.
Report by: FMIPA UGM/Febriska Noor Fitriana
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Lintang