Eight students from the Fisheries Product Technology Study Program (PS THP), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK), Universitas Brawijaya (UB), have successfully won a prestigious grant from UB-Student Academic Research Scheme (UBSTARS) program in 2025. Moreover, they were also selected as participants in the Student Mobility Program held at the Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition (FFSN), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Malaysia on Monday (5/5). This achievement is real evidence of the quality of the academic climate and the innovative spirit of UB students in responding to global challenges in the field of fishery product processing.
In this activity, eight UB students were involved in a collaborative research program with supervisors from Universiti Malaysia Sabah who were experienced in the fields of food science, nutrition, and functional food development. They worked under direct academic and technical guidance from supervisors who had extensive experience in the fields of fish processing and food technology.
The research they conducted aimed at optimizing the utilization of snakehead fish (Channa striata), one of Indonesia’s local commodities that is rich in protein and essential amino acids. This fish is widely known to have high health benefits, such as fasten wound healing, increasing body immunity, and supporting growth.
There are three main research topics that are carried out, namely the first, the development of functional drinks based on snakehead fish protein hydrolysate under the guidance of Prof. Eddy Suprayitno and Heder Djamaludin, M.Sc. (UB) and Dr. Mohd Azrie Bin Awang, Dr. Ahmad Hazim Bin Abdul Aziz, and Dr. Jumardi Bin Roslan (UMS) with students namely Sulung Rival Isom Maulana, Tria Are Sumarto, and Zulfaidha Zakiyatul Mahmudah. The second is the development of white bread with protein hydrolysate using various protease enzymes.
This team consists of Prof. Eddy Suprayitno and Abdul Aziz Jaziri, M.Sc. (UB), and Prof. Hasmadi Mamat and Dr. Ahmad Hazim bin Abdul Aziz (UMS) with students namely Amelia Rizka Rachma and Nadya Rizki Andani. The third is the development of instant baby food products based on snakehead fish protein and various types of bean protein, guided by Prof. Dr. Eddy Suprayitno and Dr. Yunita Eka Puspitasari (UB), Assoc. Prof. Wolyna Pindi (UMS) with students namely Fairuz Azmi Mumtaz, Nadia Mumtaz Ramadina Hidayat, and Vanya Paramitha Prihsatuhu.
During the activities in Malaysia, students not only gained laboratory research experience, but also interacted directly with international academic culture, attended scientific seminars, and conducted industrial visits related to food technology. This program is part of the implementation of the internationalization of higher education at Universitas Brawijaya, especially in producing graduates who excel academically and are ready to compete at the global level.
“This program provides a golden opportunity for our students to explore more deeply how fishery products can be processed into innovative products that support food security. More than that, they learn how cross-country collaboration opens up insights and improves the quality of research,” said one of the accompanying lecturers from the Fishery Product Technology Study Program, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences UB.
The students’ success in this program cannot be separated from the full support of UB through UB STARS program, which is designed to encourage creative and collaborative research by students at the international level. UB STARS is an important platform in encouraging the spirit of research and development of innovations that provide solutions to current issues, ranging from food, health, to the environment.
FPIK UB continues to be committed to strengthen the synergy among education, research, and community service. Through this similar activities, FPIK UB encourages students to become pioneers of change and innovators in the field of fishery product processing and sustainable food technology.
This research is expected to not only produce innovative products, but also become the basis for further development by the local and international food industry. Optimal and sustainable utilization of fishery resources is one of the keys to increasing the competitiveness of Indonesian products in the global market. Through this program, UB proves itself as a campus that encourages the internationalization of student research, strengthening global collaboration, and the development of applied science that has a broad impact on society [fpik/pon/UB PR/ Trans. Iir]
