In line with the rapid development of information technology, various daily activities are inseparable from intersecting with information technology. This is also utilized by the Department of Aquatic Resources Management (MSP), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) IPB University in making it easier for students to participate in the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program.

At the beginning of this odd semester, the MPS Department of IPB University launched the recording of MKBM activities and learning hours via a mobile application. With this application, MSP students who are carrying out MBKM do not have to open a laptop to record their activities and learning hours.

In the palm of their gadgets, anytime and anywhere, they can easily document their activities while carrying out the MBKM program.

“This is a breakthrough that deserves appreciation for the persistence of the MSP Department’s information technology (IT) team who always strive to be up-to-date in carrying out academic activities. Thus, students are increasingly facilitated in documenting MBKM activities both in the field, offices, research institutes, and in laboratories,” explained the Head of the MSP Department of IPB University, Prof. Hefni Effendi.

Dean of FPIK IPB University, Prof. Fredinan Yulianda greatly appreciates the use of the MBKM mobile application. He said that the use of the mobile application for MBKM has not been implemented at IPB University, so the MSP Department is a pioneer and trendsetter.

In 2023, the MSP Department will implement 20 semester credit units (SKS) of MBKM in semester 7. This is to obtain optimal achievement of the main performance indicator (IKU) 7. The 20 credits are a combination of capstone courses and enrichment courses.

“Last year, all MSP students of class 57 participated in the MBKM Project Independence program with the theme Blue Carbon. The MBKM location was carried out on Tidung Island, Pramuka Island, a mangrove tourism area in Brebes. The 2023 MBKM activities were funded by the Independent Campus Competition Program (PKKM),” said Prof. Hefni.

Prof. Hefni said that the implementation of MBKM in the MSP Department follows the MBKM guideline in the form of a blue book that combines capstone course projects and enrichment course projects. During MBKM, students carry out various project activities such as attending capstone lectures, provision lectures on blue carbon given by experts from outside IPB University and abroad, internships, and working on independence projects.

“Students then document these activities in log books, reports, videography, and infographics. At the end of the MBKM period, a conference is held, each group presents the results of their respective MBKM projects. The group with the best presentation, videography, and infographics is awarded in various categories,” he explained.

In 2024, Prof. Hefni continued, the MSP Department’s MBKM carries the theme of Blue Economy with very varied locations. Still combining capstone courses with enrichment course courses. However, the current MBKM project mostly follows collaborative research projects owned by all MSP lecturers.

The MBKM locations are spread across Pasaran Island, Bandar Lampung, hatcheries in Lampung, the Serang Fish and Environmental Health Testing Center (BPKIL), the Tangerang Mangrove and Urban Aquaculture Tourism Area, the Seribu Islands, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP), Bogor City and Regency, Teluk Eretan, and Sidoarjo.

In between carrying out MBKM activities, students are advised to also conduct final project research. This strategy is implemented in the MSP Department to accelerate the on-time graduation program, namely the undergraduate study period is exactly or less than 4 years.

“Along with the obligation to make an MBKM project proposal, students are also advised to prepare a final project research proposal. When leaving for MBKM, the final project research proposal is also ready. This method is very effective in accelerating the on-time graduation of MSP Department students,” explained Prof. Hefni.

For the first time in history, in 2024 the MSP Department also achieved an achievement of on-time graduation (≤ 4 years) for class 57 students of 71.08 percent.

“This is the legacy of the MSP Department, and this achievement will continue to be maintained along with other achievements that have been achieved previously such as a department with reputable international publications, the highest at the IPB University level, and also the highest IKU,” concluded Prof. Hefni. (*/Rz)