As Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.’ Four Physics students from Diponegoro University had the privilege of participating in a visitation and training program at NANOCAT, University of Malaya.
For two weeks, a group of Physics students from Diponegoro University engaged in a laboratory visitation and intensive training program at NANOCAT, a renowned research institution at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. The primary goal of this program was to enhance the students’ competencies in research and scientific disciplines, particularly in nanotechnology and its various applications. NANOCAT is well-known as a research center that explores the applications of nanotechnology in diverse fields, ranging from environmental issues to energy storage and utilization, as well as in the medical and healthcare sectors. This initiative also aimed to foster and strengthen collaboration between universities in order to develop joint research projects in the future.
Characterization and Testing of Nanomaterials Training at NANOCAT, University of Malaya
During this training program, Felix Jonathan (Undergraduate Physics), Ulfa Niki Andini (Physics Alumni), Dwi Endah Ni’Matul Amalia (Graduate Physics), and Winarno (Graduate Physics) were guided by Dr. Mohd Rashid bin Yusof Hamid to learn various material characterization techniques such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, VSM, FE-SEM, particle size analyzer (PSA), zeta potential analyzer, and other techniques. The students were also given the opportunity to conduct characterization tests on titanium(IV) oxide nanoparticles, which had been synthesized in the Laser and Advanced Nanotechnology laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Ali Khumaeni, a faculty member from the Physics Department of Diponegoro University. These titanium(IV) oxide nanoparticles are nanomaterials intended to be used as photocatalysts for degrading pollutant compounds in water.
At the end of the program, the students were given the opportunity to present their research findings to the members of NANOCAT and Prof. Dr. Mohd Rafie bin Johan, the director of NANOCAT. The students explained the characterization tests they had conducted, the knowledge they gained from the classes and seminars, and the insights they acquired through various laboratory activities at NANOCAT. This presentation not only showcased the research results but also provided a comprehensive overview of the learning experiences they had achieved during the program.
Opportunities for the Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Diponegoro University
Programs like this are expected to enable Indonesian students to continue developing themselves and contributing to their respective fields. Internationalization in higher education is a strategic step to enhance the quality of human resources and build international collaboration networks.
Pada akhir program, mahasiswa diberi kesempatan untuk memaparkan hasil penelitian mereka kepada anggota-anggota NANOCAT dan Prof. Dr. Mohd Rafie bin Johan, direktur dari NANOCAT. Mahasiswa menjelaskan pengujian karakterisasi yang telah dilakukan, ilmu-ilmu yang diperoleh dari kelas dan seminar yang diikuti, serta pengetahuan yang didapat setelah menjalani berbagai kegiatan laboratorium di NANOCAT. Presentasi ini tidak hanya menampilkan hasil penelitian yang telah dilakukan, tetapi juga memberikan gambaran menyeluruh tentang pengalaman belajar yang telah dicapai selama mengikuti program ini.
Peluang bagi Fakultas Sains dan Matematika Universitas Diponegoro
Dengan adanya program seperti ini, diharapkan mahasiswa Indonesia dapat terus mengembangkan diri dan berkontribusi dalam bidangnya masing-masing. Internasionalisasi dalam pendidikan tinggi merupakan langkah strategis untuk meningkatkan kualitas sumber daya manusia dan membangun jaringan kerjasama internasional.