Two students from the Agribusiness Study Program at PSDKU Universitas Brawijaya (UB) Kediri, Berlianti Laksmi Bestari and Trevia Marsyanda Rizki, had the opportunity to hone their professional skills through the Impactful Internship Program of Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM). This activity took place at PT PG Rajawali I, PG Rejo Agung Baru Unit, Madiun.
During the program, the students learned tissue culture methods, a modern plant seedling propagation technology. The main focus of this method is to produce superior quality sugarcane seedlings with high genetic uniformity and free from various diseases, thereby expected to boost the productivity of the national sugarcane plantation sector.
In the tissue culture laboratory, the interns directly practiced the entire production workflow, from observing plantlet growth to quality control aspects. They were trained to operate industry-standard laboratory equipment, such as Laminar Air Flow (LAF), autoclaves, and ovens, while upholding Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) principles and strict standard operating procedures.
Berlianti emphasized that success in tissue culture technology relies heavily on discipline and work sterility. According to her, this experience serves as a crucial bridge between academic theory in the classroom and practical reality in the field, while also refining analytical skills, teamwork, and communication in a professional work environment.
This strategic collaboration between PSDKU Universitas Brawijaya Kediri and the industrial sector is seen as a concrete step toward producing graduates adaptable to modern agricultural innovations. Through this program, students are expected to make a tangible contribution to strengthening the competitiveness of the Indonesian sugar industry in the future.
