Manokwari, 8 July 2026 – The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FP USU) continues to expand its national and international academic network through collaborations in the field of entomology with the Indonesian Entomological Society (PEI) North Sumatra Chapter, the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Universitas Muhammadiyah Papua Barat (UMPB), the Manokwari Agricultural Development Polytechnic (Polbangtan Manokwari), and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The collaboration was marked by a public lecture entitled "Introducing Entomology: A Gateway to Future Career Opportunities for Biology Graduates," held on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
The event served as a platform to introduce students to the strategic role of entomology while strengthening collaboration among higher education institutions in advancing education, research, and innovation that contribute to sustainable development.
The Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of UMPB, Nurul Abidin, M.Pd., expressed his appreciation for the event, noting that collaboration among universities is a strategic step toward advancing insect biodiversity research in Papua while strengthening Indonesia's academic network.
The keynote speaker, Ameilia Zuliyanti Siregar, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., a lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara and an active researcher in entomology, explained that entomology has broad applications beyond agriculture, extending to healthcare, environmental management, industry, and education. She emphasized that understanding insects plays a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity, maintaining ecosystem balance, and generating innovations that benefit society.
The public lecture was attended by students from various study programs within FKIP UMPB, as well as university leaders, lecturers, and academics from several institutions. The event also welcomed Prof. Ts. Dr. Abdul Hafiz Ab. Majid, M.Sc., Ph.D., from Universiti Sains Malaysia, whose participation further strengthened the international dimension of the collaboration.
The series of activities continued at Polbangtan Manokwari with the signing of a collaborative agreement involving Polbangtan Manokwari, the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) of Universitas Sumatera Utara, the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara, the Indonesian Entomological Society (PEI) North Sumatra Chapter, and Universiti Sains Malaysia. The partnership aims to strengthen the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi) through collaboration in education, research, scientific publications, and community service at both the national and international levels.
On the same occasion, Ameilia Zuliyanti Siregar, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., encouraged students to cultivate a strong research culture from an early stage by fostering curiosity, maintaining consistency throughout the research process, and developing scientific writing skills as essential preparation for future academic and professional careers.
The event concluded with an interactive discussion involving students and academics. The session reaffirmed the commitment of all participating institutions to expanding academic collaboration, strengthening human resource capacity, and producing innovations that generate meaningful contributions to scientific advancement and society.
This initiative reflects the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara's commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing the quality of higher education, strengthening research culture, and developing students' competencies. It also advances SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering national and international collaboration in education, research, scientific publications, and community engagement. Furthermore, the focus on entomology contributes to SDG 15 (Life on Land) by promoting scientific knowledge that supports biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management, and sustainable agricultural development.