Kranggan, Bekasi, September 10, 2026 — In an effort to strengthen collaboration in education, research, and innovation, while advancing the downstream application of academic knowledge through Community Service (PKM), the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics of Universitas Dian Nusantara (FTI UNDIRA) hosted a workshop and academic discussion titled “International Collaboration: Bridging Innovation and Community, Academic Sharing, Benchmarking Project, and Social Outreach.”

Held at UNDIRA’s Kranggan Raya Campus in Jatisampurna, Cibubur, the event was met with great enthusiasm by 37 academic participants from UNDIRA, along with two representatives from leading Malaysian polytechnics: Ts. Dr. Noor Ropidah binti Bujal, a lecturer at Politeknik Ungku Omar, and Nurul Fazura binti Abd. Hamid, a lecturer at Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah, Malaysia.

According to the Dean of FTI UNDIRA, Dr. Arie Pangesti Aji, Ph.D., this reflective forum and academic discussion, which provided valuable insights for both FTI lecturers and students, marked a continuation of the collaboration established between FTI UNDIRA and two prominent Malaysian vocational higher education institutions, Politeknik Ungku Omar and Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah, since 2025.

The event was officially opened by UNDIRA Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs, Ir. Margono Sugeng, M.Sc. In his remarks, he emphasized that the forum was not merely intended to bridge the academic interests of educational institutions across borders, but also to establish a shared vision of strengthening the research ecosystem and advancing the downstream application of academic knowledge.

Following the opening remarks by Ir. Margono Sugeng, FTI UNDIRA Dean Dr. Arie Pangesti Aji echoed the importance of collective support in making such collaboration possible. What began with an IEEE Day visit, followed by guest lectures and sharing sessions between the two sides, has gradually developed into a closer and more meaningful partnership between FTI UNDIRA and its two Malaysian counterparts.

The first keynote session was delivered by Ts. Dr. Noor Ropidah binti Bujal, who emphasized the need for significant advances in innovation, particularly in modern electrical power systems. Through her research presentation, “Integration, Optimization, and Future Research Direction,” she explored a range of solutions, from harnessing solar energy through solar cells to utilizing water (H₂O) as an energy source that could contribute to the long-term sustainability of human civilization.

The session also covered three types of fuel cell technologies: PEMFC, SOFC, and MCFC, along with their implementation schemes, ranging from individual fuel cells and fuel cell stacks to DC-DC converters.

She explained that distributed generation holds significant potential for deployment in remote areas with limited access to conventional electricity. However, careful optimization is essential to ensure that its implementation does not create new challenges. Several issues, including high investment costs, fuel storage, limited site availability, and complex conversion and control systems, still need to be addressed. Moving forward, research will focus on more comprehensive planning and greater integration between different technologies and systems.

The discussion then continued with a presentation on the application of the Internet of Things (IoT) by Nurul Fazura binti Abd. Hamid. Her presentation highlighted several limitations of the IoT-based innovation under discussion, including the impact of weather conditions on system performance. She also outlined potential improvements, such as incorporating additional lighting components to further optimize the system’s overall performance.

Following a series of engaging presentations and an intensive question-and-answer session among members of the academic community, participants from UNDIRA, Politeknik Ungku Omar, and Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah gathered for an informal networking session. The gathering provided a more relaxed setting for substantive discussions on a range of academic and technological topics, from Machine Learning to the use of organic materials such as Bamboo Leaf Ash in the field of Civil Engineering.

Amid casual conversations about differences in vocational education systems between the two countries, several initial ideas for future collaboration also emerged. These included guest lecturer exchange programs, joint scientific publications, and potential internship opportunities for FTI UNDIRA students at the two partner polytechnics.

In his closing remarks, Aldi Cahya Muhammad, B.Sc. Engg., M.Sc. Engg., who is the vice head of electrical engineering study programme, as well as the event’s discussion moderator, emphasized that forums of this kind should not end as one-way ceremonial activities. Instead, they should serve as a foundation for broadening technological perspectives and strengthening academic networks, enabling the innovations developed through collaboration to generate meaningful and lasting benefits for society.