ULM–BPDPKS Collaboration: Synergy in Education, Research, and Palm Oil Policy

Banjarbaru – Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) continues to strengthen its role in human resource development and research in the palm oil sector through a collaboration with the Indonesian Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS). This commitment was demonstrated by the holding of the “Palm Oil Fund Support in the Development of the National Palm Oil Industry” event at the Supardi Hall, Faculty of Agriculture, ULM Banjarbaru, attended by dozens of scholarship students and academics. The event, held on Wednesday (1/10/2025), featured two keynote speakers: Mohammad Alfansyah, S.H., M.H., Director of Downstream Sector Fund Distribution at BPDPKS, and Arfie Thahar, S.T.P., M.M., Head of the BPDPKS Research Fund Distribution Division.

In his remarks, Mohammad Alfansyah expressed his appreciation for the collaboration with ULM. “We are pleased to be present among the ULM students. This year, 59 new students received palm oil scholarships. The BPDPKS not only distributes funds for scholarships, which cover tuition fees, pocket money, internship fees, and uniforms, but also supports research, competitions, and training relevant to human resource development in the palm oil industry. We hope this young generation will become innovators and leaders in the palm oil plantation sector,” he said.

Alfansyah added that the palm oil sector needs young people to continue their important role in plantation management and the development of derivative products. “We don’t want a repeat of the situation in the rice farming sector in the palm oil sector, where most farmers are elderly. Young people must be ready to get involved in the plantations and bring new innovations,” he emphasized.

ULM Vice Rector for Finance and General Affairs, Dr. Ir. Arief Rahmad Maulana Akbar, M.Si,. IPU, who was present on behalf of the Rector, expressed his pride in the trust placed in them by the BPDPKS.

“This is the first palm oil scholarship received by ULM, specifically for the Agroecotechnology Study Program. Although South Kalimantan has relatively small oil palm plantations, we were the first to implement and pilot the Cattle-Oil Palm Integration System (SISKA), which has now become a regional policy. We hope this trust will continue to support human resource development and national palm oil research,” he said.

This activity also serves as a momentum for ULM to affirm its role as a leading university in education, research, and community service in the field of sustainable agriculture. In recent years, ULM has achieved significant achievements at the national and international levels, including achieving 50 study programs with Unggul (Excellent) accreditation, entering the top 15 best universities in Indonesia according to the AD Scientific Index 2025, and ranking 27th nationally according to EduRank 2025.

The collaboration with BPDPKS is expected to not only open access to education for students from various regions but also strengthen ULM’s contribution in producing innovations and experts capable of supporting the sustainable palm oil industry in Indonesia.