Nineteen lecturers from the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Riau (UNRI) participated in a series of activities for the Badan Kerja Sama Teknik Mesin (BKSTM 2025), held at Andalas University (UNAND) in Padang from October 8 to 10, 2025. Hundreds of academics, researchers, and students from various universities in Indonesia participated in this event, aiming to strengthen collaborative networks and share the latest research findings in the field of mechanical engineering.
The event began on October 8, 2025, with the BKSTM Member Meeting, attended by the Head of the UNRI Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr. Dodi Sofyan Arief, ST., MT., and the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Dedi Rosa Putra Cupu, ST., M.Eng. The forum also saw the handover of the hosting of the BKSTM 2026 from the Head of the Andalas University Mechanical Engineering Department, Prof. Dr. Eng. Meifal Rusli, ST., MT., to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Riau. This handover marks a historic moment and a moment of pride for UNRI, hosting this prestigious national event next year.
On October 9, 2025, UNRI Mechanical Engineering lecturers and students participated in two major scientific forums: the 23rd Annual National Seminar on Mechanical Engineering (SNTTM XXIII) and the 6th International Symposium on Advances and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering (ISAIME 2025), held at the Santika Hotel in Padang. These events provided UNRI lecturers and students with the opportunity to present their research findings and engage in discussions with academics and researchers from various institutions both domestically and internationally.
On the same date, the 2025 National Machine Design Competition was also held. In this competition, a team of UNRI Mechanical Engineering students became national finalists and were invited to present their innovative design to address the waste problem, under the guidance of Mr. Hanif Nugroho Aji, ST, MT and Mr. Rahmatsyah Maksum Ramsi, ST, MT. The University of Riau team, consisting of Yusup Martua, M. Dhafa Serrano, and Renwir, won third place in the Animation & Video Category. This achievement demonstrates the creativity and ability of UNRI students in offering technical solutions to pressing environmental issues.
To conclude the series of activities, on October 10, 2025, several lecturers from the UNRI Mechanical Engineering Department also attended the 2025 National Working Meeting (RAKERNAS) of the Mechanical Expertise Agency – Indonesian Engineers Association (BKM-PII), held at the Santika Hotel, Padang. The event carried the theme "Energy Transition Towards a Net Zero Future: Integrating Renewable Energy and Decarbonization Across All Sectors." The RAKERNAS was attended by various national figures, academics, and industry practitioners who discussed the direction of sustainable energy development in Indonesia.
In his statement, the Head of the UNRI Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr. Dodi Sofyan Arief, ST., MT., expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the active participation of lecturers and students in this activity. "Our presence at BKSTM, SNTTM, and ISAIME 2025 is an important step in strengthening the role of the UNRI Mechanical Engineering Department at the national level. We are also very grateful for the trust placed in us to host BKSTM 2026. This will be a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our increasingly strong academic, research, and collaborative capacity," he said.
The active participation of lecturers and students in the series of BKSTM 2025 activities demonstrates the UNRI Mechanical Engineering Department's commitment to developing mechanical engineering science, expanding its academic network, and contributing to technological advancement and innovation in Indonesia. (MA/HNA)
