en.malanginspirasi.com – The Faculty of Agro-Industrial and Biosystems Technology, Brawijaya University (FTAB UB) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) implemented the commitment to inclusive economic development through an international collaboration.
A team of lecturers from FTAB UB, conducted community service activities to develop dried fruit processing at the UKM Unique, a business unit managed by the Eka Mandiri Batu Special Needs School.
UKM Unique is a unique business model because its entire workforce are students and alumni of the Eka Mandiri Batu Special Needs School.
Through this business unit, students not only learn vocational skills but also build economic independence and self-confidence to compete in the workforce.
The community service activity, held on September 17, 2026, is part of the 2026 Brawijaya University Creative Lecturer Program. The program is chaired by Rini Yulianingsih, Ph.D., with members Prof. Musthofa Lutfi and Ubaidillah, M.Si.
In its implementation, the UB team collaborated with the Batu City Cooperatives, Micro Enterprises, Industry, and Trade Office and the Batu City Integrated Business Service Center for Cooperatives and MSMEs (PLUT KUMKM), represented by its Chairman, Mr. Yossi Hendrawan Saraswanto, S.T.
The activity also featured a delegation from UPM, consisting of Prof. Dr. Rosnah Shamsudin, Dr. Siti Hajar Ariffin, and Dr. Muhammad Hazwan Hamzah.
Their presence strengthened the international dimension of technology transfer and business mentoring.
The Head of the Community Service Team, Rini Yulianingsih, Ph.D., explained that the main focus of the activity was improving product quality and standardization.
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“We see great potential in UKM Unique. The students and alumni of SLB Eka Mandiri have extraordinary enthusiasm. We want to help them ensure that their dried fruit products are not only delicious, but also uniform, high-quality, and competitive in a wider market,” said Rini.
“This community service program isn’t just about providing tools, but also building a system. We want these skills to be sustainable and become entrepreneurial tools for them,” he added.
One of the main sessions in the training was about dried fruit processing and the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), delivered directly by Prof. Dr. Rosnah Shamsudin from UPM.
In her presentation, Prof. Rosnah emphasized the importance of process control to maintain quality.
“The key to good dried fruit processing lies in three things: selecting fresh raw materials, uniform slice thickness, and stable drying temperature control. If these three things are maintained, the color, taste, and nutritional content of the fruit will remain optimal,” Prof. Rosnah explained to the participants.
She also emphasized, “Food hygiene and safety standards must become part of the work culture. This way, Unique UKM products will be able to penetrate the modern market and increase consumer confidence.”
To support the implementation of the training, the UB team provided equipment in the form of a food dehydrator and a slicer.
Along with the handover of the equipment was hands-on training on its use and maintenance, enabling participants to operate it independently immediately.
The training was interactive and participatory.
The methods used included material delivery, equipment introductions, demonstrations of the apple and jackfruit drying process, and open discussions with teachers, students, and alumni.
The active involvement of all members of the SLB community was a key element of this activity.
The principal of SLB Eka Mandiri Batu welcomed this collaborative program. He assessed that it had a real impact on student independence.
“We are very grateful to UB, UPM, and the Batu City Government. This assistance with equipment and knowledge is very meaningful for our children. This proves that limitations are not a barrier to creativity and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Batu City PLUT KUMKM, Yossi Hendrawan Saraswanto, S.T., emphasized his commitment to continued mentoring.
“UKM Unique is a real example of an inclusive MSME. We at the Batu City PLUT KUMKM will continue to provide support from legal aspects, packaging, and marketing, so that this dried fruit product can be upgraded,” said Yossi.
This collaboration between UB, UPM, the Batu City Government, PLUT KUMKM, and UKM Unique brings together scientific support, appropriate technology, and business mentoring.
This aim of the synergy is to strengthen the inclusive economic ecosystem in Batu City.
Through this program, UKM Unique is expected to develop more uniform, high-quality, and high-value dried fruit products, while also expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The implementation of the Dosen Berkarya program is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 1 (No Poverty) through strengthening the community economy, SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through utilizing local food sources, SDG 8 (December 2019) through the development of sustainable food production.
