InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Universitas Teuku Umar (UTU) has officially partnered with the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDP) for the Human Resources Development Scholarship Program for the palm oil plantation sector. The signing of the Cooperation Agreement (PKS) took place at the Mövenpick Hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday (20/8), alongside 41 other academic and vocational universities from across Indonesia.
The CEO of BPDPKS, Eddy Abdurrachman, affirmed that this program is a testament to the government's commitment to improving the quality of human resources in the palm oil sector. "We hope this program can produce excellent and professional generations to strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesia's palm oil industry in the future," he said. He also stressed the importance of synergy between the government, universities, and the industry to ensure the program's sustainability and its real contribution to national development.
UTU, The Only Academic Institution in Aceh
UTU's involvement in this program is particularly significant, as it is the only academic institution in Aceh Province entrusted with providing human resource education for the palm oil sector through a scholarship program. UTU Rector, Prof. Ishak Hasan, was present at the signing, accompanied by an Agrotechnology lecturer, Maulidil Fajri. According to Prof. Ishak, this partnership is a great opportunity for UTU students, especially those in the agrotechnology field. "This program opens up opportunities for students to expand their knowledge and skills in the field of sustainable plantations," he said, as quoted by InfoSAWIT from UTU on Friday (22/8/2025).
He emphasized that the success of the scholarship program is a collective responsibility of the entire UTU academic community. The Head of the Agrotechnology Department will lead the Palm Oil Human Resources class, focusing on academic management, curriculum, and mentoring for scholarship recipients.
Beyond tuition funding, the program is designed to strengthen academic and research capacity, as well as community service relevant to the palm oil industry. At UTU, the special Palm Oil Human Resources class will be managed under the coordination of Dr. Abdul Latif, MP., to ensure the program's effective implementation and maximum benefit for students. Prof. Ishak stated that UTU is fully committed to the program's success. "We want to ensure that students not only receive a quality education but are also ready to meet the needs of the palm oil industry," he said.
This initiative is also part of BPDPKS's national agenda to promote the BAIK (Bersih, Akuntabel, Integritas, and Kesempurnaan - Clean, Accountable, Integrity, and Perfection) plantation commodity, with the goal of producing superior human resources to strengthen Indonesia's palm oil competitiveness. (T2)
