VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian government is trying to improve the experience of university students from the Department of Agricultural Industrial Technology, Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) by sending them to the University of Queensland, Australia,  in a bid to complete a final project in the form of a capstone project. The Indonesian  Embassy in Canberra in  its statement on Friday (5 /4) stated that  this effort is part of implementing the program of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka in which  the university  students can complete their final assignments in various forms;  one of  them is a capstone project. The  capstone project is the top achievement of an academic program by combining all skills and knowledge acquired to a final conclusion.

Education and Cultural Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, Mukhamad Najib during a discussion with the Head of the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, University of Queensland on Thursday (4/4) pointed out that the Indonesian government encourages students to have international experience by doing activities on world-class campuses, such as the University of Queensland. The implementation of the capstone project at the University of Queensland will provide a learning process for students; one of them is experience working in a multicultural environment with academicians around the world.

The Agricultural Industrial Technology students from the Bogor Agricultural Institute to the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, University of Queensland were accompanied by the professor of Agricultural Industrial Technology, Bogor Agricultural Institute,  Farah Fahma. At the handover of Agricultural Industrial Technology students from the Bogor Agricultural Institute to the University of Queensland, Farah explained the  final project with a capstone project including things that have just been implemented in Indonesia.  Meanwhile,  at the Australian campus,  this has been done for a long time.

Therefore, Farah assessed that the implementation of the capstone project is very good if it is done in Australia. The completion of the final assignment with the capstone project is carried out in groups. The university students work together to solve problems on a particular topic in a comprehensive manner. Sending students to the University of Queensland is  the  first time for Agricultural Industrial Technology, Bogor Agricultural Institute.  In 2024,  the Agricultural Industrial Technology of Bogor Agricultural Institute sends 4 university students. While at the University of Queensland,  they will work on various experiments and analyze them which will later be written in a final assignment report.

The Indonesian government has offered investment in the renewable energy sector to entrepreneurs in China. According to Deputy for Infrastructure and Transportation Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Rachmat Kaimuddin, the Indonesian government has carried out various initiatives to support the energy transition, such as the construction of new electricity transmission infrastructure, development of the renewable energy supply chain,  particularly the solar energy sector as well as the development of the electric vehicle, battery and green hydrogen ecosystem.

Besides,  Rachmat also conveyed this at the forum  " The China RE Invest Indonesia 2024 " organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing in collaboration with Tenggara Strategics and the Indonesian Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Beijing on Monday (1/4). The forum aims at introducing investment and financing opportunities to investors and financiers from China in renewable energy in Indonesia. 

Moreover, Indonesian Ambassador to China and Mongolia,  Djauhari Oratmangun on that occasion affirmed the strong bilateral relations between Indonesia and China especially in the field of renewable energy.

During the event, there was also a panel discussion on renewable energy exports to Singapore and a business meeting session. According to Rachmat, production of solar panels and battery energy storage systems for electricity exports to Singapore must be able to meet local content requirements of at least 60 percent.

Meanwhile, President Director of PT PLN,  Darmawan Prasodjo  in the discussion conveyed that his side plans to develop a comprehensive smart grid system to support various renewable energy sources so that it will be in line with the development of the ASEAN Electric Network across countries.This step will pave the way for Indonesia to export renewable energy to Singapore. Director of Public Affairs of Trina Solar Co. Tori Liu explained the company has invested more than 86 million US dollars in the Kendal Industrial Area, Central Java to produce 1 gigawatt N-type topcon cells and modules. According to Tori,  Indonesia offers a strategic position as an investment center in the ASEAN region with significant solar energy market potential, including project development on former mining land,  unproductive land and floating solar power plant initiatives on reservoirs.

The Indonesian Ministry of Environment & Forestry issued a circular to ensure waste management by realizing a less waste homecoming in the homecoming route and during the Eid. In the Circular no. 5 2024 on Waste Management of Eid 1445 Hijriah, Minister of the Environment & Forestry, Siti Nurbaya called the regional heads to invite, facilitate, and monitor waste management during homecoming mainly in the homecoming route and its supporting regions, as well as during the Eid.

Besides, to maintain less waste and anticipate spiking waste production, the circular called for a selected waste facility. It was mainly for food waste, plastic packaging, maskers, and residues at rest areas as well as waste processing based on waste type and production.

Meanwhile, to anticipate difficulties faced by the homecoming people mainly because of the line in the rest area, the ministry also asked for a mobile waste collection and a special tent for a separated waste storage station.

The Environment & Forestry Ministry also asked for a post and special task force to handle homecoming waste in regencies and cities seven days before and after the Eid. They also recommended the field units of the Regional Apparatus Organization that are responsible for the environment, to collect, separate and later transport the waste by cooperating with related stakeholders.

Besides, the ministry also recommended avoiding bringing food or beverage to prayer places. The Environment & Forestry Ministry called for a waste data recording that is managed in the National Waste Management Information System belonging to the ministry. Education to the homecoming people about waste reduction in various channels, including social media needs to be continued. 

Homecoming is an annual tradition of Muslims in Indonesia, especially during Eid. The homecoming or returning to the hometown has a significant boost for the economy, but comes with a challenge namely the waste from the homecoming people that needs positive management. The Indonesian government gives a special attention to the smoothness of the homecoming tradition, both the homecoming flow and the return flow.

The University of Indonesia held a meeting with the Chilean Ambassador to Indonesia to explore the potential for further collaboration with universities in Chile. Previously, University of Indonesia has collaborated with Universidad Catolica Del Maule, from 2018 to 2023. Secretary of the University of Indonesia, dr. Agustin Kusumayati in Depok, Wednesday (27/3), said that the potential for collaboration could provide positive opportunities for both parties and open up opportunities for the University of Indonesia to expand international collaboration with universities in Chile.

Agustin also said that progress in relations between the two parties was not only carried out by the University of Indonesia and universities in Chile, but was also a good collaborative initiative between the two countries. She proposed establishing wider collaboration with various universities in Indonesia and universities in Chile.

Meanwhile, the Chilean Ambassador to Indonesia, Mario Ignacio Artaza Loyola, said that the visit of the Chilean Embassy to Indonesia to the University of Indonesia was aimed at identifying potential areas at the University of Indonesia that would be collaborated with the Chilean government. He also encouraged students and lecturers at universities in Chile to get involved in international collaboration initiatives.

Ambassador Mario explained various problems occurring in the world such as climate change, gender equality, welfare and public health as threats and challenges for every country. He saw the need to initiate high-level cooperation between Indonesia and Chile which would involve Indonesian universities, students and professors to contribute to overcoming these challenges.