The close relationship between the industrial world and academia was once again tightly forged in the ‘One Day Poultry Talk’ event, held by PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia Tbk, together with the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Brawijaya University (UB), on November 10, 2025, in the Faculty of Animal Husbandry Hall at Brawijaya University, Malang.

The festive event marked an important momentum in strengthening the collaboration between the university and the national poultry industry, with the spirit of producing superior human resources ready to face global challenges toward the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.

The event, attended by university leaders, lecturers, students, and industry representatives, was lively. Attendees included the Vice-Rector V of Brawijaya University, Prof. Dr. Unti Ludigdo, Dean of Fapet UB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Muhammad Halim Natsir, Director of PSDKU UB Kediri, Prof. Dr. Ir. Soleh Hadi Purwono, Regional Head of CPI East Java, Benyamin Limi, along with his staff, and representatives from PT BISI International Tbk, Wisnu Hermawan and his staff.

 University and Industry Collaboration

In his speech, the Dean of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry UB, Prof. Dr. Ir. Muhammad Halim Natsir, affirmed the importance of a close relationship between higher education and industry. According to him, the university’s role is not only to generate knowledge but also to be capable of producing graduates ready to meet the needs of the working world.

“Higher education institutions do not produce goods, but they produce human resources. Therefore, collaboration with the industry, such as with CPI, is something inseparable,” stated Prof. Halim.

Prof. Halim mentioned that this event is a concrete form of the close relationship between the academic world and the business world. Through this synergy, students are expected not only to gain knowledge but also soft skills, hard skills, and work ethics that will be essential provisions in the professional world.

“Students are considered successful if they can become entrepreneurs, quickly obtain decent employment, or continue their studies. Therefore, collaboration with the industry is an important factor in preparing them to face the challenges of the working world,” he added.

Furthermore, Prof. Halim appreciated the contribution of Charoen Pokphand Indonesia, which has actively supported the education sector. In addition to a laying chicken teaching farm grant and the establishment of the Entrepreneurship Training Center (ETC), Charoen Pokphand Indonesia this time also provided scholarships for outstanding, underprivileged students and expanded cooperation in the corn commodity sector, a crucial component in the animal feed industry.

In addition, Charoen Pokphand Indonesia donated ornamental chickens, including the Begisar Chicken, Silkie Chicken, Serama Chicken, and a pair of ornamental pigeons. He stated that the symbol of this cooperation serves as a good initial marker for the continuation of the synergy between UB and CPI.

“Yesterday afternoon when the chickens arrived, their crowing was immediately heard. Even one of the Serama chickens immediately laid an egg. This is a sign of blessing for our cooperation,” he said, followed by laughter from the audience.

CPI’s Commitment to Advancing Education

Representative of Charoen Pokphand Indonesia, Benyamin Limi, as the Regional Head of PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia East Java, stated in his address that this cooperation is not a new thing but a form of continuity of the partnership that has been established since 2019.

“Cooperation with the UB Faculty of Animal Husbandry has been running well since the construction of the close house cage. The results are also positive, serving as a place for practice, internships, and research for students at the UB Faculty of Animal Husbandry,” explained Benyamin.

Charoen Pokphand Indonesia also presents various student development programs, such as the Charoen Pokphand Best Student Appreciation (CPBSA), which provides opportunities for internships and international experience. Through annual scholarships, Charoen Pokphand hopes to help equalize access to education while fostering a resilient and integrity-driven generation of young livestock professionals.

“We want students not only to be academically smart but also to understand the business processes and modern management in the poultry world,” added Benyamin.

One of the focuses of this year’s cooperation is the development of the corn commodity through a partnership with PT BISI International Tbk. Students will be directly involved in managing a one-hectare experimental plot, from cultivation to post-harvest.

Benyamin Limi emphasized that this program not only supports the agricultural sector but also strengthens the poultry feed ecosystem. “The poultry industry is about 40–50 percent corn. Therefore, students need to understand the supply chain and processing technology of corn as the basis for animal feed,” he said.

In addition to the scholarship launch, the event also featured the signing of a cooperation agreement between PSDKU UB Kediri and PT BISI International Tbk, represented by Prof. Soleh Hadi Pramono and Wisnu Hermawan. This collaboration includes the MBKM Internship program and the AgriPreneur Acceleration Program, focusing on the development of corn as a primary raw material for animal feed.

University Support for Integrated Industry and Research

In his speech, Prof. Unti Ludigdo affirmed that the collaboration between higher education and industry, such as Charoen Pokphand Indonesia and BISI, is a concrete manifestation of Brawijaya University’s effort to become a campus that creates impact for the community.

“Brawijaya University has long been committed not just to being an ivory tower but to being directly present, providing solutions for the industry and the community,” he said.

Prof. Unti also highlighted the importance of building a “corporate laboratory” as a concrete form of synergy in research and innovation between the university and the business world.

According to him, this collaboration model will accelerate the birth of applied innovations and support the development of science and technology areas at Brawijaya University.

Educational and Inspirational Activities

In addition to the signing of the cooperation agreement, the One Day Poultry Talk event also included a talk show on poultry industry partnerships, a job fair, an ornamental chicken exhibition, training on feed material quality, and outreach to layer farmers. All these activities received high enthusiasm from students and participants.

As part of the One Day Poultry Talk, an exhibition of ornamental chickens and pigeons was also held, officially opened by Vice-Rector V UB, Prof. Dr. Unti Ludigdo. The symbolic ribbon cutting marked the joint commitment to broadening the horizons of the animal husbandry world, not only in terms of production but also in hobbies and the conservation of germplasm.

The exhibition displayed various types of ornamental poultry such as the Begisar, Silkie, Serama Chickens, and Fancy Pigeons. On this occasion, Charoen Pokphand Indonesia also symbolically provided assistance in the form of several pairs of ornamental poultry to the faculty and presented certificates of appreciation to the community of ornamental chicken and pigeon enthusiasts as a form of support for the preservation and development of local poultry.

“We want students to know that the world of animal husbandry is vast, including the field of ornamental poultry and companion animals. All have great economic and educational potential,” said Prof. Unti during the opening ceremony.

Through the One Day Poultry Talk, PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia and Brawijaya University showed that collaboration between industry and academia is not just a discourse but a concrete step towards the sustainable development of the livestock sector.

With the spirit of togetherness, innovation, and human resource empowerment, both are ready to step together to build a resilient and competitive Indonesian poultry industry in the future. ADV