ITS Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (right) giving speech at the MoU opening between ITS and UTM

ITS Campus, ITS News – The many natural potentials of Madura Island make it must be developed more in the field of research and innovation. Based on that, ITS partnered with Trunojoyo Madura University (UTM) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to answer the problem, Wednesday (9/9).

The first official visit at ITS Rectorate Building marked the cooperation between the two parties. This was welcomed with open arms by ITS Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng. “This way ITS can cooperate with UTM in the fields of education, research, and community service.,” he said.

Both ITS and UTM hope that this MoU can be followed up as soon as possible. In addition, the MoU is also expected to help prosper the community and develop the potential that exists in Madura Island. “I hope this cooperation can be a positive thing for ITS and UTM,” said this professor of Electrical Engineering ITS.

While in his speech, UTM Rector Dr Drs Ec H Muh Syarif MSi said, UTM has had some research and innovation. But this is still accompanied by some obstacles. Among them is the lack of ability in engineering to create a technology that can be useful for Madura Island. “Therefore, we invite ITS to work together in the field of technology to help the development of natural potential in Madura Island,” he said.

ITS Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (second from right) with UTM Rector Dr Drs Ec H Muh Syarif MSi during the signing of MoU

Vice-Rector I of UTM Academic Field Dr Deni Setya Bagus Yuherawan SH MS explained, all UTM academic activities are focused on developing the natural potential owned by Madura Island. This makes UTM want to cooperate with ITS to bring about new innovations that can be useful for Madura Island. From the cooperation, Deni wants innovation by both parties to be able to prosper the lives of madura people and boost ITS achievements on the national and international scene.

On the same occasion, ITS rector who is commonly called Ashari argued that ITS has a study that is assessed according to the potential of Madura Island, namely the manufacture of lithium batteries from folk salts made by ITS Physics Department. The research, which has been funded by several institutions such as the Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP), is considered suitable for Madura island as a salt producer.

(From left) Vice Rector I UTM Dr Deni Setya Bagus Yuherawan SH MS, Rector of UTM Dr Drs Ec H Muh Syarif MSi, Its Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng, and Vice Rector IV ITS Bambang Pramujati ST MSc PhD

In response, The Dean of UTM Faculty of Agriculture Ir Slamet Subari MS raised some of the problems faced by Madura Island. The first is research on corn crops conducted by UTM. Although quite successful, but in its application in the field, Madura Island has a lack of Human Resources (HR). This is because many Madurese people choose to travel off the island. “I hope ITS has the right technology that can replace the role of reduced HR,” he said.

He continued, he said that salt is the next problem. Currently UTM has not found human resources that can degrade one or part of the industrial tree which is the development of the continuation of the salt. This makes the price of salt received by farmers still too cheap. So this is judged to under-improve the welfare of salt farmers. UTM hopes that ITS has an innovation that can help salt farmers choose other options for their salt sustainability.

Not only these things, but there are also some bids that UTM submitted for ITS as the sustainability of this MoU. Among them are research on moringa leaves, the exchange of ITS students with UTM students, making salt modifications, and the exchange of lecturers between ITS and UTM.

Its Rector Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng (two from right) with UTM Rector Dr Drs Ec H Muh Syarif MSi exchanged souvenirs after the signing of the MoU

In response, Vice-Rector IV of Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and ITS Alumni Bambang Pramujati ST MSc Eng PhD said, the continuation of this cooperation can be discussed further with several research centers in ITS. On the other hand, Ashari also concluded that the number of matches in some areas between UTM and ITS has great potential to be further developed. (dil/Anjani/ITS Public Relation Officer)