Mataram, University of Mataram – The Institute for Research and Community Service of Universitas Mataram (LPPM Unram) received a visit from the Institute for Research and Community Service of Singaperbangsa University of Karawang (LPPM UNSIKA). This activity took place in the Main Conference Room of LPPM Unram on Thursday (11/23).

The meeting was attended by the Head of the Institute for Research and Community Service of Singaperbangsa University of Karawang (LPPM UNSIKA) Dr. Dayat Hidayat, S.Pd., M.Pd. accompanied by 12 lecturers and 4 people. While from LPPM Unram, Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr. as the Head of LPPM was present, accompanied by the Research Coordinator, Prof. Ir. Buan Anshari, ST., M.Sc. (Eng.), Ph.D.; KKN and Cooperation Coordinator, Dr. Ir. Misbahuddin, ST.., MT, IPU; Service Coordinator Dr. Faturrahman, S.Pt., M.Si; Business Incubator and Innovation Coordinator Dr. Didy Ika Supryadi, SE, MM; and Program, Information Data and Quality Coordinator, I Wayan Sudiarta, Ph.D..

Starting this meeting activity, Dr. Dayat Hidayat, S.Pd., M.Pd. explained that, “the implementation of this benchmarking is a place for friendship and collaboration of research and community service related to environmental issues and disaster mitigation, KKN empowerment service centers, publications and seminars, to intellectual property rights centers”.

The journey in achieving this research certainly has many obstacles when the funds spent must match the output produced. The regulations made require that the results match the output given, so sometimes it is difficult when getting grants or the like must go straight with the results. Therefore, it is important to work together with fellow Research and Service Institutions so that the expected results are as targeted.

The Head of LPPM Unram, Prof. Dr. Ir. Sukartono, M.Agr. welcomed the presence of LPPM UNSIKA followed by explaining the Special Location (LOCUS) and Focus of Research and Community Service (PKM) Unram. “In the Unram Research Master Plan (RIP), it has been determined that Unram’s flagship research umbrella is the Management of Sustainable Small Island Areas. The determination of 5 loci was carried out with various considerations including urgency, excellence and uniqueness of natural resources, synergism with national and international policies, as well as the availability of research and human resources (researchers), “explained Prof. Sukartono.

The five priority area loci include: (1) Rinjani Geopark, (2) Mandalika Special Economic Zone, (3) Green Alas Strait, (4) SaMoTa (Teluk Saleh-Moyo-Tambora), and (5) SaKoSa (Sape-KomodoSangiang).

Furthermore, I Wayan Sudiarta, Ph.D. as the Coordinator of Programs, Information Data and Quality continued, “with the Special Locations (LOCUS) and the focus of research and service listed in this RIP, it is hoped that it will be able to boost the achievement of the Main Performance Indicators (IKU) of the University of Mataram”.

To accelerate the achievement of the vision and mission, the implementation of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) policy, and the achievement of Unram’s Main Performance Indicators (IKU), as well as the benefits of Unram for partners, LPPM Unram is refocusing priority research on 5 regional loci with 5 research focuses.

Research Coordinator of LPPM Unram, Prof. Buan Anshari explained the urgency of the existence of Mount Rinjani for the lives of the people of Lombok Island is very vital because it is a source of life. “Mount Rinjani as a source of life with 90% of the watershed on Lombok Island, is ‘home’ to 19 species of mammals, 8 species of reptiles, 8 species of amphibians, 160 species of birds, 25 species of butterflies, 447 species of trees, 59 species of ferns, 117 species of fungi, 80 species of orchids, 28 species of lianas, 6 species of rattan, and 153 species of medicinal plants. The exogenic geological processes that occur in the Sembalun Ancient Caldera which become continuous alluvial deposits cause this area to be very rich in nutrients so that it is very potential for agriculture with a landscape of garlic, potatoes, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, coffee, strawberries, and spices, “explained the Research Coordinator of LPPM Unram.

Furthermore, Dr. Faturrahman, the Service Coordinator explained that, “every year the University of Mataram through LPPM holds UNRAM Mengabdi activities which aim to intervene directly related to solving problems in the community by maximizing the potential of existing natural resources. This can be a concrete step in collaborating with LPPM Singaperbangsa University (UNSIKA)”.

In addition to conducting research and community service carried out by lecturers and researchers, Unram also distributes students through Real Work Lectures (KKN) Village Community Empowerment (PMD) based on problems in the community.

In this case, Dr. Misbahuddin as the Coordinator of KKN and Cooperation explained, “KKN-PMD in 2023 consists of 14 themes including Desapreneur, Advanced and Zero Agricultural Village, Tourism Village, Healthy Village, Advanced and Sustainable Agricultural Village especially Porang Commodity, Corn, Rice, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries in Dompu Regency, Disaster Resilient Village (DESTANA), Healthy Village with Stunting Theme, Digital Village, and Underdeveloped Village”.

In addition to focusing on research and service, LPPM UNRAM also has a Business and Innovation Incubator Center (KUBINOV) commanded by Dr. Didy Ika Supryadi, SE, MM. Which in his presentation explained that the vision and mission of KUBINOV, namely facilitating the results of research and innovation from the elements of research and service then further incubation for innovation products that have potential. In building an entrepreneurial ecosystem at Unram, KUBINOV together with the Head of LPPM formed a KUBINOV manager who has 3 fields, namely the innovation field, the incubation and downstream fields, and the start-up field.

Based on the excellence of research resources, contributions to research performance and community service, as well as achievements in nationally competitive research, including laboratories, Science and Technology Centers of Excellence, and other aspects, Unram sets five main focuses in research activities. The five research focuses include: (1) food, (2) health and medicine, (3) energy, (4) environment and tourism, and (5) education, social, economic, legal, and humanities. The existence of 5 loci with 5 research focuses is expected to encourage the realization of synergism between LPPM Unram and LPPM UNSIKA more tangible and useful for the community, government, business world, and the world of work.

“It is hoped that with this benchmarking, LPPM UNSIKA and LPPM UNRAM can be followed up into a collaboration in good research and service,” hoped Dr. Dayat Hidayat, S.Pd., M.Pd.