Yogyakarta, July 23, 2025
The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DTPB), Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FTP UGM), welcomed an academic visit from four students of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering from Udayana University as part of the Independent MBKM (Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka) research program. The official meeting was held on July 23, 2025, in the DTPB meeting room, serving as a reception, introduction, and presentation of planned activities for the program duration.
The four participating students are:
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I Nyoman Limpo Garjiya
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Bagus Prasetyo Wibowo
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I Made Mickey Yogi Agna Kusuma
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I Wayan Tubagus Pramauda
In his welcoming speech, the Head of DTPB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Lilik Sutiarso, expressed his appreciation for the trust given by Udayana University’s Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering program in choosing DTPB FTP UGM as a research partner. He also expressed hope that this collaboration would continue to grow in the future through joint research, student exchanges, and other academic initiatives.
The students from Udayana University brought a research theme focused on design and modification in the field of mechanical and biosystems engineering. This visit also aimed to initiate communication between the students and the lecturers and technicians who will serve as supervisors and facilitators throughout the research period.
Also present at the event was the Head of the Laboratory of Energy and Agricultural Machinery, Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho, who warmly welcomed the students. In his remarks, he emphasized the importance of student initiative in exploring learning opportunities during the research program.
“Please feel free to explore and take full advantage of your time here. We encourage you not to be limited by your assigned theme but also to explore other available topics in our labs and department,” he said.
The event was also attended by DTPB lecturers Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Purwantana, Makbul Hajad, Ph.D., Sri Markumningsih, Ph.D., and Ardan Wiratmoko, M.Sc., as well as technicians from the Laboratory of Energy and Agricultural Machinery and the Laboratory of Electricity and Electronics, represented by Suryatmi.
The students were accompanied by two faculty members from Udayana University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Yohanes Setiyo, M.P. and Dr. I Putu Surya Wirawan, S.TP., M.Si., who also took part in the initial discussions on the research direction to be developed during the program.
Dr. I Putu Surya Wirawan also expressed his hope that the students would not only focus on laboratory activities but also actively build academic and social networks.
“We hope that students will also engage with the Agricultural Engineering Student Association (PERMATETA) at UGM for organizational benchmarking and to learn from their programs. This is a crucial part of non-formal learning that supports the development of soft skills,” he said.
The expected outputs from this MBKM program include the completion of a Capstone Design project and the publication of scientific articles in academic journals. The program is also expected to strengthen students’ competencies in applied research and foster institutional collaboration.
After the meeting, the Udayana University delegation was given a tour of DTPB’s laboratory facilities to familiarize themselves with the research environment they will be working in during the program.
The research to be conducted is also aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
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SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): through contributions to agricultural technology supporting sustainable food production,
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SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): by exploring renewable energy innovations in the agriculture sector,
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SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): through the development of design and modification technologies,
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SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): by strengthening collaborative networks among higher education institutions.
This initiative is expected to provide valuable cross-institutional academic experiences for the students and serve as a strong foundation for future, sustainable research collaborations between FTP UGM and Udayana University.
