SEMARANG – Politeknik Negeri Semarang (Polines) held a Palm Oil Research and Palm Oil Scholarship Socialization activity which took place at the Integrated Lecture Building (GKT) Polines Campus, Tembalang, Semanang City, Thursday (25/9/2025) with the presence of resource person Dr. Ir. Arief Rahmad Maulana Akbar, M.Si., IPU, Member of the Research and Development Committee (Litbang) of the Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia.
This activity was opened by the Director of Polines Dr. Garup Lambang Goro, ST, MT. In his remarks, the Director expressed his appreciation for the implementation of the socialization which is expected to increase the participation of the Polines academic community in research and development of palm oil-based innovations.
"This program opens up significant opportunities for lecturers and students to contribute through research and innovation that supports the development of the national palm oil industry, while also enhancing human resource capacity," he said.
In his presentation, Dr. Ir. Arief Rahmad Maulana Akbar, M.Si., IPU emphasized the importance of research that aligns with industry needs and has the potential for real implementation. "The keys to a successful proposal are alignment with priority areas, a deep understanding of the issues being addressed, and significant benefits for the development of the palm oil sector," he explained.
The event was attended by Department Heads, Study Program Coordinators, and all lecturers at Polines. Participants received an in-depth explanation of the various funding schemes offered by BPDP, ranging from the student-level Palm Oil Research Competition to the palm oil human resource development scholarship program.
This outreach also discussed the proposal submission mechanism, assessment criteria, and strategies for downstreaming and commercializing research results through collaboration between universities, industry, and the government.
Through this activity, it is hoped that Polines can play an active role in supporting the government's program to strengthen the downstreaming and competitiveness of the national palm oil industry, while also opening up research and innovation development opportunities for the academic community.