UNS – The Faculty of Agriculture (FP) at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta has signed a collaboration agreement. The partner was PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Tbk (PT SMART Tbk). This partnership strengthens both institutions’ commitment to Indonesia’s palm oil industry.
Dean of FP UNS, Prof. Dr. Ir. Samanhudi, S.P., IPM, ASEAN Eng, APEC Eng, represented Universitas Sebelas Maret. Meanwhile, Lilianawati represented PT SMART Tbk’s as Power of Attorney Holder for the Board of Directors. She also serves as Head of HR Central Business Services. They signed the cooperation agreement on Thursday (27/2/2025). Key company representatives also attended, including Yudi Heriyadi, Lead HRBP Upstream Operations, and Tiara Aninditia, Development Program Recruiter Team Lead. Pradjna Dewi Y., HR Staff and Employer Branding, was also present.
The signing took place at the Supratoyo Building Meeting Room, FP UNS. Vice Dean for Non-Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ir. Mujiyo, S.P., M.P., attended the event. Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Gusti Fauza, S.T., M.T., was also present. There were also several Heads of Undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral Study Programs within FP UNS.
Strengthening Industry-Academic Collaboration
Lilianawati expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership. “We hope this collaboration provides students with valuable opportunities to join our programs. Through these initiatives, students will receive training and may even secure a ‘Golden Ticket’ to become employees at our company.”
She also emphasized the mutual benefits of this agreement. “In the future, we aim to develop joint programs aligning with labor market demands, particularly for UNS graduates,” she added.
Dean Prof. Samanhudi welcomed the collaboration, highlighting its importance. “This agreement is the result of our recent visit to PT SMART Tbk. We are grateful that the company has formalized this commitment.”
He also underscored the need for strong industry-university ties. “We are excited to work closely with the industry. Universities must actively engage with businesses to stay relevant in today’s job market.”
Preparing Future Palm Oil Industry Experts
To support Indonesia’s palm oil sector, FP UNS is developing specialized courses and internship programs. “The industry demands a highly skilled workforce. If we do not adapt, we will struggle to compete with other universities. FP UNS introduces specialized courses on palm oil studies and increases student internships at palm oil companies,” Prof. Samanhudi stated.
This collaboration between UNS and PT SMART Tbk serves as a concrete step toward achieving SDG Goal 17. It is ‘Partnerships for the Goals.’ Through education and industry cooperation, the university contributes to sustainable workforce development in Indonesia’s palm oil sector.
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