On 16 and 22 May 2023, the Undergraduate Program of Food Science and Technology (ITP), Faculty of Agriculture, Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta held the 5th International Guest Lecture Week of Food Science and Technology (5th IGLW), which was attended by hundreds of its students, lecturers and staffs. IGLW is a biennial activity held by the ITP Study Program, and this year is the fifth one. IGLW is a series of guest lecture activities inviting lecturers from universities abroad, which aims to provide the students and staff with broader knowledge and experience. Apart from that, it is also conducted to initiate collaboration between the ITP Study Program and universities abroad in the form of joint publications, collaborative research, student exchanges -both inbound and outbound ones-, as well as other collaborative activities. Through this activity, the ITP Study Program is also working synergistically and sustainably to contribute to one of the goals of the UNS, which is making UNS an internationally reputable university.
Dr. Setyaningrum Ariviani, chair of the 5th IGLW, explained that this year’s IGLW invited guest lecturers from universities included in the QS 100 by the subject of Agriculture and Forestry, which were Kasetsart University, Thailand and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia. IGLW 2023 was held offline on 16 May and online on 22 May 2023, after previously being held entirely online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This activity was carried out with the support of LPDP, Indonesian Ministry of Finance through the DAPT funding scheme.
The Dean of the UNS Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Dr. Samanhudi, welcomed and officially opened the 5th IGLW at the UNS Tower Ballroom on 16 May 2023. Apart from the Dean, the Head of the ITP Study Program, Prof. Danar Praseptiangga, Ph.D. also gave an opening speech at this event. Through this guest lecture, students got more insights into current issues in the field of food science and technology. He expressed his hope that after this activity, a mutual collaboration would be established between UNS, especially the ITP study program and Kasetsart University and UPM, some of which include joint publications and collaborative research, student exchanges, and other collaborative activities.
Assoc. Prof. Sirichai Songsermpong from the Faculty of Agro-industry, Kasetsart University, Thailand, delivered his lecture on Tuesday, 16 May 2023, on the topic of “Rice Processing and Technology”. Various innovations of GABA rice-based products that have functional benefits, for instance, instant GABA noodles, canned Gaba Brown Rice, rice snacks, and GABA rice vermicelli, have been produced. GABA is an important molecule that acts as a neurotransmitter, anti-stress, may provide a calming effect, improve mood, and lower blood pressure. In addition, the use of microwaves in the latest technology for processing various rice-based products was also presented. Rice can be converted into various innovative products that are tasty, safe and healthy using environmentally friendly technology. Dr. Mohd. Shamzi Mohamed from the Department of Bioprocess Technology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, delivered a guest lecture on Monday, 22 May 2023, through Zoom with the topic “Recent updates of fermentation technology for food and bioprocess products”. Engineering in the fermentation process, such as optimizing media formulations and culture conditions, is essential to carry out to increase fermentation yield and strain productivity.
