Research activities at the central research institute are one of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) activities. This activity was carried out for the first time at the Food Technology Study Program (PSTP) and was held in the second semester of 2022/2023. The implementation of the cooperation between Institut Teknologi Sumatera (ITERA) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in early 2023 offered Students the opportunity to become a BRIN researcher for six months. The activities carried out at various BRIN research centers provided learning experiences to Students to conduct research, publications, and routine mentoring together with BRIN researchers. This MBKM Research activity will be converted into 20 credits of learning at the end of the semester. Students also had the opportunity to continue the MBKM research activities into a thesis research topic.
Ilham Marvie, who is the curriculum coordinator, MBKM and Cooperation Coordinator of PSTP ITERA, stated, “The MBKM Research activity is a valuable opportunity for Students to learn to become a professional researcher by utilizing the facilities and infrastructure owned by BRIN”
There were six Students of PSTP ITERA who followed the MBKM Research program at various research centers with the following details: 2 Students at the Research Center for Poultry Agroindustry Development of Anak Tuha, Central Lampung, 1 Student at the Applied Microbiology Research Center in Cibinong, 1 Student at the Food Process Technology Research Center in Yogyakarta, and 2 Students at the Agroindustry Research Center in Serpong.
“The implementation of the MBKM Research internship activity at BRIN Anak Tuha produced many benefits, from analysis to the proper and correct use of the instrument tool. One of them was the use of the extruder for modification that is usually only studied theoretically during lectures, but here we learned how to operate it directly. Not only that, the researchers here are also very good in mentoring and sharing experiences,” said Anggun Pangesti, a Student of the Food Technology Study Program at ITERA who followed the internship at BRIN Anak Tuha.
The MBKM Research activity in this second semester was held from February to August 2023. The hope is that this activity can increase Students’ interest in the academic world and research, especially for preparation after campus. Through this research internship, Students can continue their activities into final thesis assignment at the current MBKM place and collaborate with BRIN researchers. This MBKM activity is also a realization of the cooperation between Institut Teknologi Sumatera with the BRIN Talent Management Directorate and the BRIN Applied Microbiology Research Center. (ILM/MNU)
