Bogor, 20th October 2023, The Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program officially signed a collaboration agreement with PT ISKOL Agridaya Internasional. This collaboration is carried out in the context of implementing MBKM-PKKM, and through this collaboration agreement, the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program with PT ISKOL Agridaya Internasional is expected to encourage the growth of the agricultural and agribusiness sectors. Apart from that, it is also hoped that this collaboration will become an example of cooperation between universities and other industrial worlds in facing an increasingly complex era of globalization.
MBKM
Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) is a program launched by the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia that aims to encourage students to master various scientific fields to prepare for the world of work. The MBKM program gives students the right to take courses outside the study program for one semester and/or engage in activities outside the college for a maximum of two semesters. Universities are also given the freedom to provide several forms of learning activities (BKP) according to the needs and interests of their students. To support the MBKM program, the Agricultural and Agribusiness Economics Study Program (EPA) has been working with various partner institutions and companies since 2021 to organize MBKM. In 2023 the MBKM program is focused on MBKM BKP Internships, Research, and in collaboration with the Association of Indonesian Agribusiness Study Programs (IPSAGRI) to organize Student Exchange MBKM. Activities carried out by students in MBKM can be converted into courses consisting of hard skills and soft skills courses, which are equivalent to 20 credits. The MBKM program can be taken by semester VI and VII students who have completed compulsory courses (Semesters I-V). The list of MBKM partner institutions and companies initiated by the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program are:
The Faculty of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) established a collaboration with PT Rumah Mocaf Indonesia (Free Learning Campus Merdeka) (MBKM). This collaboration was initiated by the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program, Department of Agricultural Social Economics, Faculty of Agriculture UGM. The cooperation agreement was signed on Friday, January 20, 2023 offline in the Cooperation and Alumni Room of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM. Representatives of the UGM Faculty of Agriculture and PT Rumah Mocaf Indonesia attended the event. The signing of the cooperation was carried out by Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph. D. as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Akhmad Arwyn Imamur Rozi, S. T., M. B. A. as Managing Director of PT Rumah Mocaf Indonesia. This agribusiness company produces, markets, and develops Mocaf (Modified Cassava Flour) products and their derivatives through socio-agropreneurship partnerships with more than 452 cassava farmers in Banjarnegara. Its product marketing does not only meet the domestic market. However, it is also exported to several countries, one of which is Turkey.
The Faculty of Agriculture, Gadjah Mada University, established an Independent Learning Campus (MBKM) partnership with CV Erista Garden which was officially signed on Thursday, 19 January 2022. The event was held offline in the Meeting Room of the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, which was attended by representatives of the UGM Faculty of Agriculture and CVs Ersita Garden. The signing of the cooperation agreement was carried out by Ir Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D. as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Ir. Erista Adisetya, MM. as the director of CV Erista Garden. The company is engaged in the ornamental plant business, selling from upstream to downstream: Nurseries, selling Erista Mart vegetables, selling vegetable and ornamental plants (Agrimart), making and managing gardens (Erista Flora), restaurants (Griyo Dhahar, Padasan Coffee (café ), Erista Kaliaji in Turi, Erista Garden (service, education, and training).
In connection with the implementation of MBKM in the Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program, on Thursday, April 29, 2021, socialization was held to students so that MBKM could be carried out more smoothly. On this occasion, the students got information that out of eight forms of learning activities, the study program decided to carry out five activities, namely student exchanges, internships/work practices, research, entrepreneurial activities, and village development.
The socialization was delivered directly by the head of the study program Dr. Any Suryantini and MBKM team representative Abi Pratiwa Siregar, M.Sc.
Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Study Program was selected to be one of the recipients of Curriculum Cooperation Assistance Programs and Implementation of Freedom to Learn – Independence Campus on decree number 1575 / E2 / DM.00.01 / 2021 by Directorate General of Higher Education. Through this grant, it is hoped that there will be an acceleration in the process and implementation of cooperation to make Freedom to Learn – Independence Campus a success.