Agribiz studes, bioenergy expert join int’l course

July 26, 2021

By Christelle Alynna Marie S. Agustin
StratCom Intern

 

Students of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) are currently participating in the international academic exchange program offered by the Institut Pertania Bogor (IBP), a prestigious agricultural university in Indonesia. In the same program, a bioenergy expert of the University will serve as a lecturer.

  

Five Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness students of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) are currently enrolled in a Smart Agroindustry course that runs from July 21 to August 4. 

 

They are Jay Anne D. Padernal, Fenelyn Achuela, and Tri-ann Rose D. Oalog (2nd year); Ronneth Nica B. Belong and Ma. Alisone D. Picoc (3rd year). 

 

Offered by the IBP’s Sekolah Vokasi (College of Vocational Studies), this year’s summer course, with the theme “Implementation of Information Technology in Smart Farming for Smallholder Farmers,” aims to equip the participants with hands-on knowledge and skills on the principles and practices of smart agro-industries. 

 

The Smart Agroindustry course will prepare students to work in agricultural environments connected to the network, digital automation of data and have experience using equipment on smart agriculture and livestock.

 

The course, which consists of lecture series, discussions, practicum, work presentations, and virtual reality field visits, is equivalent to 3 credit units. 

 

Meanwhile, Engr. Thomas Ubiña, an electrical engineering faculty and a pioneer of bioenergy technology of the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC), was tapped as one of the speakers in this year’s summer course. 

 

On July 27 (Tuesday), Ubiña will share his expertise on bioenergy to the participants with his topic, “Integrating Industry 4.0 and Renewable Energy in Bioethanol Production from Nipa Palm.” 

 

In her speech during the opening program last July 21, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis thanked the IBP University for selflessly sharing its learning opportunity to the students despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

Agrupis said MMSU’s participation in the exchange program shows its commitment in sustaining its strong partnership with the Indonesian university toward the advancement of quality education and research.

 

Aside from MMSU and other universities in the Philippines, IBP’s partner-universities in Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Laos, and Germany are also joining the said course. (StratCom)