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Tag: Indonesia

USU Research Collaboration on Supplement for Stunting Reduction

Posted on by Editorial Team

Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), in collaboration with Bina Nusantara University (Binus) and the Government of Serdang Bedagai (Sergai) Regency, North Sumatra, and PT Mega Medica Pharmaceuticals (MMP LLC), has conducted research on a supplement targeted to reduce stunting in the regency that has successfully reduced the stunting rate by up to 38%. The 6-month research collaboration, involving 20 community health centers, six sub-districts, and 243 villages in Serdang Bedagai Regency, demonstrated that the syrup containing a combination of snakehead fish, andrographis paniculata, and turmeric extracts from MMP LLC has proven effective in reducing stunting.

The Head of the Research Team, Prof. Bens Pardamean, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., stated in the research report on the prevalence of stunting in the regency that the study was conducted through an Integrated Database System. Sergai Regency is currently implementing a stunting intervention program involving distributing products from MMP LLC, providing supplementary food, and combining both. Bens Pardamean mentioned that the Stunting DB application facilitated the recording, storage, and access of data for analyzing the impact of the program or intervention on the growth and development of stunted toddlers.

This information was presented during the presentation of stunting research results at the Reflection on Stunting Innovation event with Bina Nusantara University. The event was attended by the Regent of Sergai, H. Darma Wijaya, several regional leaders, the Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency, Dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Sp. OG (K), and other distinguished figures such as Prof. Dr. dr. Sarma Nursani Lumban Raja, Sp.OG (K) and Dr. rer dr. M. Ichwan, M.Sc, the Dean of Faculty of Medicine, USU, Prof. Dr. dr. Aldy Safruddin Rambe, Sp.S (K), Imam Bagus Sumantri, S.Farm, M.Si. Apt, the Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, USU, Khairunnisa, S.Si., M.Pharm, Ph.D and the Director of MMP LLC, Sutristo.

Previously, the stunting rate in Serdang Bedagai reached 483 toddlers. After the validation process in two stages, involving removing redundant data, the final validation isolated 219 toddlers from 17 community health centers. After six months of research, the characteristics of the research participants showed improvements in height growth, weight gain, appetite, and a reduction in the frequency of fever or diarrhea experienced by the toddlers. Overall, Bens Pardamean stated that all three intervention programs had a significant impact, with the Channafit supplementation showing particularly positive results compared to the other two programs. This was evidenced by a significant increase in anthropometric measurements of 8.45 cm and 2.80 kg.

Dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency, commended the stunting research involving academia, government, the community, and the industry. He believes that such programs can assist the central government in accelerating the reduction of stunting rates nationally.

Meanwhile, Sutristo from MMP LLC stated that the company focuses on developing products for the health of mothers and children sourced from natural ingredients in Indonesia, particularly from snakehead fish (channa striata). Preclinical trials of the combination of snakehead fish, turmeric, andrographis paniculata, and honey extracts in syrup form to prevent stunting were also conducted by the Faculty of Pharmacy at USU which came up with the ideal dosage according to body weight for the supplement. The developed products are available for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.

Snakehead fish (channa striata) is a local natural resource with nutritional potential, containing a complete set of essential amino acids closely resembling those needed by the body, thus aiding in the prevention of malnutrition. Meanwhile, turmeric, andrographis paniculata, and honey contain compounds that can increase appetite.
Based on the available data, the research team suggests that this combination of ingredients holds promise as an approach for use in stunting intervention cases, considering the abundance of the base ingredients, their low production cost, and the affordability of the resulting syrup.

UNAIR calls for transformation in the SDGs Festival talk show

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) shows its commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by launching the SDGs Festival from November 20 to 22, 2023, at the Garuda Mukti Hall, Management Building, MERR-C Campus.

One of the highlight moments in the festival was the talk show with the theme of “Transformative Policy Innovation for a healthy and sustainable Environment”. Prof. Retna Apsari, UNAIR’s SDGs Expert, also attended as a speaker in the talk show.

Exploring UNAIR’s SDGs

Prof. Retna claimed that UNAIR has implemented seventeen goals of SDGs, particularly in the Goal 1, 3, 5,7, 8, 9, and 13. Approaching sustainable development of the university can be achieved through the involvement of government and parliament, academics and experts, civil society organizations and media, as well as philanthropy and businesses.

“It’s time to align our frequencies to take the actions together. We still have poverty issues that need to be resolved. For instance, poverty is not a commodity for the sake of image-building. UNAIR has developed products to address poverty issues, one of which is a stunting intervention product,” the professor said.

Currently, the lecturers and students have improved their research, innovations, and community development programs. In 2023, the research focuses on the blue economy, green economy, health, digital economy, tourism and conservation, and food security.

“UNAIR has conducted research through pilot projects in Remote Islands in Madura, Border Islands in Bintan, and Coastal Areas in Banyuwangi. On the latter project, UNAIR detected fish pH levels and explored tourism opportunities there. All faculties will be involved in the projects,” she said.

Synergy and frequency

The Solar Shelter Charging Station innovation contributes to SDGs 7 and 9. The energy storage system is utilized for charging stations catering to the coastal communities on Gili Iyang Island. Hence, the synergy between students, lecturers, the community, and the government in policy-making is highly essential.

The university plays a significant role in achieving the SDGs through education, research, and partnership. The integration of SDGs into the curriculum enriches students’ awareness, encourages positive actions, and fosters a sustainable campus environment.

“When society embraces our innovations, it leads to economic growth and an understanding of clean technology. Consequently, when the frequencies align, there will be an extraordinary multiplication of energy,” Prof. Retna concluded. (*)

Community Awareness Raising Efforts: Digital Literacy Training for Teenage Social Media Users

Posted on by Nadya Elisabeth

Recently, the development of technology is increasingly rapid with the times. Teenagers are digital natives in the digital age with a high level of digital exposure. However, weak digital literacy is a problem faced by adolescents globally.

There are still many teenagers who are not familiar about crimes on social media (cybercrime). However, when they were asked about experiences related to cyber bullying, 85.5% of participants admitted to having experienced it (e.g. hate speech, hoaxes, and scamming).

Based on the data they have obtained, Tim Pengabdian Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) from the Communication Science Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, chaired by Prof. Dr. Iskandar Zulkarnain, M.Si together with his two colleagues Farida Hanim, S.Sos, M.I.Kom and Arief Marizki Purba, SE, S.Sos, M.Si made digital literacy training for teenagers using social media at SMA Negeri 1 Berastagi.

In this activity, they were accompanied by Magnifier Publisher, a group of students consisting of Nadya Elisabeth, Ferry Dharmawan, Sarah Haninditya, Dea Gracia, and Sandrina Humaira who really care about digital literacy and feel they have an urgency to share their experiences related to digital literacy with other students.

The methods used in this service activity are training with details of participants digital literacy ability tests, interactive quizzes, case studies and scenarios from participants real experiences, discussions from videos and animations, giving personal and group assignments, and games related to digital literacy.

Tim Pengabdian hopes that after this digital literacy training activity is completed, the participants can understand more about digital literacy and be more aware of the do’s and don’ts on social media.

USU Lecturers Receive Patent for Self-Care Invention

Posted on by Editorial Team

Two lecturers of Universitas Sumatera Utara, Reni Asmara Ariga, S.Kp., MARS, from the Faculty of Nursing and Dr. Edy Ikhsan, S.H., M.A., from the Faculty of Law, collaborated as inventors of Patent IDS000005334 WEB-BASED SELF-CARE METHOD. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights granted the patent on 12 December 2022 for the invention of the website ariganursingselfcare.com.

This patent holder is Universitas Sumatera Utara, as a manifestation of the inventors’ dedication to the advancement of USU in education and service for the community. The website seeks to address various health-care-related issues in North Sumatra, such as those caused by the increasing population, the long distance between patients and health service centers, the cost and time that patients have to spend to get services, the lack of professional nurses, and the increasing number of degenerative diseases. Its accessibility to the public benefits the downstream of care innovation products. The invention relates to a self-care method that provides nursing care information and consultation services based on a website implemented through a smartphone or a computer.

The ariganursingselfcare.com website invention is intended to improve individual and the public’s ability to access information on and perform self-care, especially in health promotion methods. Self-care is conducted by consulting the website’s information database for health, quality of life, and recovery improvement. Continuously maintained and updated, the website contains the latest nursing care information such as injury care, maternity care, diabetes care, respiratory care, general examination (hypertension, hypotension, hyperuricemia, hypouricemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypocholesterolemia), nutritional care for toddlers, dental care, COVID-19 care, and common diseases usually found in community health centers (PUSKESMAS), providing a comprehensive nursing care consultation services starting from the assessment to the evaluation stage.

In the era of revolution 5.0, humans will live alongside technology in all aspects of life through digital devices, including nursing. The inventors hope the website can offer the public access to health services, expanding the outreach of hospitals and nurses in providing nursing care services.

UMY Alumni Opens Coffee Shop after Obtaining Funding from BSI

Posted on by umy

An economic growth that prioritizes the sharia system is a concern that Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) and Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) are trying to realize. UMY has been providing funding assistance for entrepreneurial development to students by collaborating with BSI through the BSI Maslahat Sociopreneur program, This is where Ahmad Syaoqi Fuadi, who is an alumni of the Management Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UMY, succeeded in getting funding for the coffee shop business he owns, Calma Brewhouse.

At the opening of Calma Brewhouse on Thursday (21/9), Budi Abdiriva as Area Manager of BSI Yogyakarta said that BSI is very open to continuing to collaborate with students who have businesses and are interested in developing their businesses. According to him, the funding given to Syaoqi is a real form of collaboration between BSI and UMY to drive the sharia economy.

BSI Maslahat Sociopreneur is a business incubation program for students who have the desire to become socially oriented Muslim entrepreneurs. It is not only aimed at developing financial entrepreneurial competence, but also the attitude, mentality and character of entrepreneurs that can be fostered through this program.

This is in accordance with what was conveyed by the LIKES & Education Group Manager of BSI Maslahat, Aprilia Eviyanti. “A business owner is a leader. In contrast to applying for a job and immediately getting a salary, in business we must be able to restrain our own ego and interests. That kind of entrepreneurial spirit is what we are trying to develop, not just guidance in business material,” she said.

In relation to this, Syaoqi explained the process he had gone through to obtain funding from BSI. According to him, the stages that must be passed are not easy, especially when it comes to increasing sales turnover. “One of the criteria used for assessment is the average turnover at a predetermined nominal value. Back then, I was still selling my coffee online, so my ability to increase turnover was limited,” he said when contacted on Saturday (23/9).

He also gave a few tips for becoming a good entrepreneur based on the experience he has gone through, namely being consistent and loving his own product.

When contacted, Head of the UMY Startup & Business Incubator (SEBI) Division Dr. Siti Nur Aisyah, SP added that another important factor behind success in developing a business is the person behind the business. He said that Syaoqi is someone who continues to learn and has wide connections thanks to his social skills. However, thanks to his hard work and enthusiasm to continue learning, he was able to realize his dreams and was able to expand his coffee shop.

Ngobrol Buku: a Community Focused on Increasing People’s Literacy and Interest in Reading

Posted on by Afifah Darke

Based on a report from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Indonesia’s literacy culture score is 57.4 points in 2022. This value was recorded as an increase of 5.7% compared to the previous year which was 54.29 points. Even though this percentage has increased, the figure is not good enough to create quality human resources.

To increase people’s interest in reading, many literacy activists are endlessly inviting Indonesian people to get closer and love literacy. One of them is a literacy activist from North Sumatra, Eka Dalanta Tarigan.

Eka Dalanta, an alumnus of the Indonesian Literature Department, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) who is a literacy activist and active in the field of literature. Because of her love of literature, she and 4 other writers founded a community called Ngobrol Buku.

Ngobrol Buku is a community in the city of Medan, North Sumatra which was founded with the determination to change the stigma that thinks literature is difficult to understand and boring. The topics discussed are also presented in an interesting and non-monotonous way so that the audience has a deeper interest in books and literature.

The establishment of this community is useful for increasing public awareness to be more interested in literacy and literature. “Talking about literature is important, because it will make us individuals who have a sense of empathy and an attitude that humanizes other humans well,” said Eka.

She added, “The aim of creating this community is also to introduce the richness of Indonesian literature to a wide audience, especially young people, therefore we use social media platforms such as Instagram”.

This community, as a forum for discussions related to literature and literacy, has also been regularly carrying out activities since May 2020. These activities are carried out in a hybrid manner, namely online every Friday at 20.00 P.M in Indonesia time via live Instagram @ngobrol.buku and offline once a month in public spaces so that it can attract the attention of more people.

As an effort to bring literature closer to society, it is hoped that this community will grow bigger, gain recognition from many circles and be able to produce many young generations of literature lovers and spread the beauty of Indonesian literature worldwide. In this way, the literacy rate in Indonesia, especially in the city of Medan is increasing.

SDGs Center of Universitas Airlangga proposes collaborative initiative with Western Sydney University

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

In a groundbreaking move towards global sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Center at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has extended an invitation for collaboration with Western Sydney University (WSU). This initiative aims to foster international cooperation in addressing critical issues outlined by the United Nations’ SDGs.

Capacity building program for public servants

One of the critical aspects of this collaboration is the proposed Capacity Building Program scheduled for the coming year. This program explicitly targets the professional development of public servants (ASN—Aparatur Sipil Negara) and will be conducted in partnership with Western Sydney University. The program aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of participants, equipping them with the tools necessary to contribute meaningfully to achieving SDGs.

Innovative data system mentorship

The collaboration also includes a pioneering data system mentorship program. It recognizes the importance of data in informed decision-making, and this initiative will facilitate the exchange of expertise between UNAIR and WSU in the development and implementation of cutting-edge data systems. The mentorship program empowers both institutions to leverage data effectively to drive progress toward sustainable development.

SDGs Festival: A Celebration of Global Goals

As part of the collaboration, both universities are gearing up to host an SDGs Festival. This festival will serve as a platform for raising awareness and fostering a shared commitment to the SDGs. Through a series of events, discussions, and interactive sessions, the SDGs Festival aims to engage students, faculty, and the broader community in a collective dialogue on sustainability.

Dr. Bayu Arie Fianto, Head of SDGs Center Universitas Airlangga, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “This partnership with Western Sydney University is a significant step towards creating a global network of institutions dedicated to advancing the SDGs. By combining our strengths and resources, we can profoundly impact the world’s most pressing challenges.”

The collaboration between SDGs Center Universitas Airlangga and Western Sydney University exemplifies the spirit of international cooperation and underscores the shared commitment of both institutions to building a sustainable future. As the world looks towards a decade of action for the SDGs, such partnerships are crucial for realizing the vision of a more equitable and sustainable world.

From Medan to Gwangju: Sister City Collaboration in the Spirit of Friendship and International Cooperation

Posted on by Maryam Mazaya

Students from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) embarked on a cultural visit to Gwangju, South Korea, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations through cultural exchange and explore potential collaborations in education.

This activity is part of the Sister City program between the City Government of Medan and the City Government of Gwangju.rnrnThe Sister City Program is an initiative between two cities from different countries or regions aimed at establishing official relationships to promote cultural, economic, and social exchanges. True to its name, Sister City is grounded in the similarities of two cities despite their geographical differences. The program has gained international recognition, especially in bilateral relations between countries, particularly in non-capital regions.rnrnThe City Government of Medan initiated Sister City collaborations in 1997 with several cities in different countries, including Gwangju (South Korea), Ichikawa (Japan), Chengdu (China), Georgetown, and Ipoh (Malaysia)rnrnTypically involving student exchanges, government official visits, economic collaborations, and joint cultural programs, the program aims to strengthen the relationship between two cities and allows their residents to learn and understand each other’s cultures.

In November 2023, the Medan City Government implemented the Sister City program to Gwangju, South Korea. The initiative included sending 12 students from four major universities in Medan.rnrnDuring the program, Medan students were accompanied by students from Gwangju, originating from Chungnam National University (CNU) and the Gwangju International Center (GIC), a non-governmental organization in Gwangju.rnrnThe student exchange activities also included panel discussions addressing relevant global and local issues. This provided an opportunity for both Medan and Gwangju students to understand cultural differences and worldviews, ultimately improving cross-cultural communication skills.

In terms of arts and culture, students from FISIP USU and CNU collaborated in organizing art exhibitions, traditional performances, and other cultural activities. This not only enriched the artistic experiences of both groups of students but also broadened the appreciation of arts and culture from each city. The active involvement of FISIP USU students in this Sister City program creates opportunities for learning and personal development. Through cultural exchanges, social experiences, and joint projects, students not only strengthen the relationship between Gwangju and Medan but also become ambassadors for peace and cross-cultural understanding. To further strengthen the established relationship, CNU students will visit Medan in February to learn about the local arts and culture. With a collaborative spirit, this program is expected to leave a positive impact in building bridges between two different cities, connected by the spirit of friendship and cooperation.

KJI 2023 Creates New Bridge Engineers for Indonesia

Posted on by umy

The need for engineers in the bridge sector is still considered high to meet the quality of bridges in Indonesia. This is in accordance with what has been said by Dr. Eng. Fauzri Fahimuddin, M.Sc., an engineer in the field of civil engineering and chairman of the KJI 2023 jury. When met on the third day of the KJI 2023 implementation on Wednesday (18/10), he said that the entire process that had been carried out by the participants from the start Competition registration can produce professional engineers.

“Indonesia needs many new engineers. The KJI 2023 participants have indirectly practiced how to design bridges after going through various selection stages until they reached the final which will be useful when they become bridge engineers in the future,” said Fauzri. He also assessed that all KJI 2023 participants had passed the bridge concept testing, starting from planning, design, implementation, to bridge maintenance.

Fauzri said that the 2023 KJI finalists had been prepared to fill the need for Indonesian engineers in the bridge sector. As an academic, he also wants to develop the values ​​needed by prospective engineers. “In the campus environment, we usually call it an academic atmosphere. How can these students, especially civil engineering students, conduct dialogue with lecturers, colleagues, and even regional stakeholders who can support their ideas. And they can experience this in the world of work, including as bridge engineers,” he said.

The main objective of KJI 2023 is not to find champions, but how to prepare the finalists to become bridge engineers in the future who will oversee bridge construction in Indonesia. In its implementation, the 2023 KJI has unique features that differentiate it from the previous year’s KJI.

“We deliberately created our own niche this year, where we wanted a bridge design that was optimal in its application. Not just a strong but expensive design, but an ideal bridge design that is strong, cost efficient and easy to implement. This concept should be applied by the KJI 2023 participants. They already understand that there must be adjustments in considering bridge design, which not only requires advanced knowledge but also sharp intuition and can be trained through this competition. It’s as if they have already practiced building a real bridge,” concluded Fauzri.

Finally, Fauzri also said that the values ​​he mentioned had been experienced through KJI 2023. He also hoped that the finalists’ sensitivity and intuition in the field of bridge design would start to grow and could continue to be honed. (ID)

Developing Countries Elderly’s Life Quality Indicators Being Developed by USU Staff

Posted on by Fotarisman Zaluchu

Senior Lecturer at the Social Anthropology Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), is currently developing indicators to assess the life quality of the elderly age group. These indicators will become the first assessment ever made to measure the population of eldery in the context of a developing country.

Dr. Nurman Achmad, S.Sos, M.Soc.Sc, who are the leader of this research, explained that the life quality of the elderly age group is crucial. Particularly, nowadays the trend of the number of elderly in Indonesia keeps increasing along with the improvement of life quality. However, the indicators applied tend to use the life quality standard from Western countries. “It is not reasonable to compare the life quality of the elderly age group from one culture to another”

He added, “In the research I have conducted among more than 500 participants, Indonesian elderly have a life quality reflected from the subjective assessment indicators towards their own happiness. Using the qualitative approach, it turns out that the Indonesian elderly live happily if they feel they have completed their duties raising their children, and they are even happier if they have had grandchildren. For them, the children’s independence makes them feel satisfied, and even if they have to live by themselves, they will be just fine. The Indonesian elderly are proud and feel successful because they have completed their life duties as parents”.

Nurman Achmad explained that “the ethnics in Indonesia have life stages and every stage provides the indicators of a life quality at the perception and spiritual satisfaction level. Of course, those things cannot be captured by quantitative indicators, especially if those do not use the reflection of the elderly as the objects of life quality assessment.”

“If we apply the indicators of the Western countries, the result is all of our elderly belong to the category of not having a good life quality because the present indicators being used measure a life quality more physically,” said Nurman Achmad. Meanwhile, the meaning of humans’ life quality tends to relate more with nonphysical matters. Moreover, the worse impact from such physical assessment measurement is that “by adopting the indicators from outside of our lives, we seem to under estimate the elderly life quality that has actually been recorded in the symbols, procession, and values of life of Indonesian people.”

“We will include the indicators of self happiness, self accomplishment, and satisfaction toward oneself, and even spiritual peace, which have been abandoned in the indicators of the elderly life quality,” said Nurman Achmad. Right now, those indicators are being developed to be tested later on at a much wider scale in Asia. Nurman Achmad is hoping that these indicators will someday obtain a wide recognition and become the contribution of social sciences from Universitas Sumatera Utara to the global academic world