Encouraging the Excitement of Research Among Students, IPB SSRC Association Holds Research Workshop
To encourage the excitement of research in students, IPB Sustainable Science Research Student (SSRC) Association held a workshop with the theme 'Research and Students: The Role of Students in Developing Collaborative, Interdisciplinary and Sustainable Indonesian Research and Innovation', (25-26/3).
"Research and innovation are key factors to support the realization of national economic resilience. However, this needs to be supported by human resources (HR) who are educated with quality learning systems, teachers, and educational infrastructure," said Prof M Faiz Syuaib, Director of Research, Technology and Community Service, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemdikbudristek).
Therefore, said Prof Faiz, to improve the quality of human resources and technological qualifications, the participation and quality of education, especially higher education, must continue to be improved. "The quality and quantity of research and technology itself is also the basis for producing science and technology qualifications to build this nation," he continued.
The Professor of IPB University from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology (Fateta) added that the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research has several schemes and research funding facilities for academics and students to encourage these targets. Collaboration across disciplines and between stakeholders is equally important.
Director of Research and Innovation of IPB University, Prof Sugeng Heri Suseno also shared knowledge and information about the role of IPB University in fostering students' research interests. He said, broadly speaking, research facilities at IPB University are schematic and non-schematic.
"At IPB University there are also collaborative research activities between faculties and study programs that are cross-disciplinary in nature. The expected research outputs are publications, patents, intellectual property rights and can have a positive impact on society.
Prof Sugeng explained, the direction of IPB University's policy related to research themes is also diverse. Starting from food, ecology, energy, biomedicine to agromaritime 4.0. These various research themes are expected to be able to provide welfare to the community.
"IPB University will arrange flexible schemes such as Freedom of Learning – Independence Campus (MBKM) so that students can easily join, not too formal like theses and dissertations, so in the future students will enjoy joining the research group," concluded Prof. Sugeng.
Meanwhile, Raden Arthur Ario Lelono PhD as Director of Talent Management at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said that students are young talents and the campus is a talent pool. According to him, universities must be able to integrate and channel students' research interests through the MBKM program.
"BRIN has a student research award or scouting program segmented for undergraduate, graduate and final year students. We will compete for their research, the winner will get education funding until the final level based on research with our partner campuses and collaborators at BRIN," he explained.
In addition, he continued, BRIN also provides a funding program for student research in the final semester. This assistance is in the form of educational development contributions (SPP) for the last two semesters. "The condition is that students must get a recommendation from the research group at BRIN, so students must indeed leave campus and collaborate with other research groups when conducting research," he added.
One of the Members of the Board of Trustees of IPB SSRC Association, Dr. Rahmat Pramulya had the opportunity to deliver opening remarks. He said, "As a student organization, IPB SSRS Association is the right forum in an effort to improve learning in research, publication and organizational governance." He hoped that this workshop could add insight to the new members of the second year IPB SSRS Association, add information on opportunities for development for members and improve the organization's wider internal and external relationships. (MW/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)
