HUMAS FMIPA USU – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) conducted a working visit to the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (PPKS) in Medan on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The visit formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the implementation of cooperation between the two institutions through the signing of an Implementation Agreement (IA) to support the advancement of education, research, and the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program.

The FMIPA USU delegation was led by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Internationalization, Dr. Liana Dwi Sri Hastuti, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., accompanied by the Special Advisor to the Vice Dean, Dr. Mimmy Sari Syah Putri, S.Si., M.Si., the Head of the Subdivision for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Internationalization, Lely Ratnawati, S.T., and staff member Fiqri Ahmad Qurais Nasution, S.I.Kom.

The delegation was welcomed by PPKS representatives for a coordination meeting focused on implementing the Implementation Agreement as a follow-up to the partnership previously established between the two institutions. Held at the Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute Headquarters on Jl. Brigjen Katamso No. 51, Medan, the meeting centered on discussions regarding collaborative programs to be carried out jointly.

During the meeting, FMIPA USU and PPKS reaffirmed their shared commitment to implementing cooperation in education through the USU Partner Internship Program for the Even Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. The Implementation Agreement, signed by Dr. Liana Dwi Sri Hastuti, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Internationalization of FMIPA USU, and Dr. Hernawan Yuli Rahmadi, M.Sc., Head of the Research Division at PPKS, serves as the operational framework for the program.

Through this collaboration, FMIPA USU students will have the opportunity to participate in internship programs at PPKS, a leading industrial partner in oil palm research. In its initial phase, the program involves two Undergraduate Program in Physics students, Christy Nadya Nainggolan and Citra Adella Sembiring, who are undertaking internships at PPKS during the Even Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year.

The partnership between FMIPA USU and PPKS is a continuation of the Cooperation Agreement established in 2022 concerning the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar–Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program and collaborative research. The scope of cooperation includes student internships, innovation-driven research, practitioner teaching programs, industry-oriented curriculum development, joint scientific publications, and human resource capacity building through seminars, training, and workshops.

Through this working visit, FMIPA USU hopes to further strengthen its synergy with PPKS in developing collaborative programs that provide tangible benefits for students, lecturers, researchers, and both institutions. This partnership is expected to expand academic and industrial networks while enhancing the quality of education, research, and community service that are aligned with industry needs and scientific advancement.

HUMAS FMIPA