Saturday, February 15, 2025 – In response to the circular letter regarding the acceptance of research proposals from the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) of UNHAS held a workshop on strategies for preparing palm oil research grant proposals.
This workshop aims to improve the quality of researchers’ proposals so that they are more competitive in obtaining funding. The event featured three keynote speakers, namely Mr. Aqsha, ST., M.Si., Ph.D., as a recipient of the Palm Oil Research Grant, Dr. Ir Arief Rahman, and Dr. Tony Liwang as reviewers from the BPDPKS Research Agency. They shared their insights and experiences in managing palm oil research grants.
In his opening remarks, the Vice Rector IV for Partnership and Innovation at UNHAS expressed his hope that researchers would make the most of this opportunity. “Hasanuddin University, as a major stakeholder in research development, hopes that UNHAS lecturers and researchers can become key players in palm oil-based innovation with high added value, so that they can contribute not only in the academic field, but also to the national economy and energy security,” he said.

In line with the statement of the Vice Rector IV, the Head of LPPM UNHAS also linked the issue of financial efficiency in various government agencies, which also has an impact on educational and research institutions, stating that “academics must be able to find alternative sources of funding. This condition is actually a challenge and an opportunity for us to be more creative in preparing competitive and applicable proposals.”
The workshop was attended by 100 participants from various fields of study who were enthusiastic about deepening their understanding of strategies for preparing palm oil research grant proposals. During the session, participants received comprehensive training on the technical aspects of proposal writing, ranging from substantive writing rules, strategies for highlighting the novelty of research, to tips for increasing the chances of success in obtaining funding.
Responding to the enthusiasm of the participants, Dr. Tony Liwang, representing BPDPKS, appreciated UNHAS’ initiative in organizing this activity as a form of support for increasing the capacity of academics in palm oil research. “We are very grateful to UNHAS for its initiative in disseminating information related to the BPDPKS research funding scheme. This is a strategic step to increase academic involvement in palm oil research development,” he stated.
Through this workshop, it is hoped that UNHAS lecturers and researchers will not only be able to improve the competitiveness of their proposals, but also contribute more to the development of palm oil research oriented towards downstreaming and commercialization of products. Thus, the resulting research will not only have an impact on the development of science, but also provide tangible benefits for industry and the national economy.