Polman Negeri Babel and YPK Air Kenanga High School Sign MoU to Strengthen Education and Technology Research
The Director of Polman Negeri Babel, I Made Andik Setiawan, M.Eng., Ph.D., and the Principal of YPK Air Kenanga High School, Muchlis Supani, S.Pd., signed the MoU, followed by shaking hands and handing over souvenirs.
The State Manufacturing Polytechnic of Bangka Belitung, the leading university in Bangka Belitung, welcomed the management of YPK Air Kenanga High School to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on higher education partnerships in the Polman Babel meeting room on Monday, May 18, 2026.
The visit was welcomed by the Director of Polman Babel, I Made Andik Setiawan, M.Eng., Ph.D., along with campus leaders. The meeting was a lively discussion between the two institutions.
The Director of Polman Babel, I Made Andik Setiawan, stated that the collaboration is not limited to education but is expected to expand into various opportunities, including community service programs, lecturer research, and support for research and technology development needed by schools.
I Made explained that, on the other hand, it opens up wider opportunities for lecturers to contribute beyond the campus environment through activities that directly impact high school students.
"If possible, this collaboration will be long-term, and SMA YPK Air Kenanga can provide a new perspective, even though it is a private school," he added.
Meanwhile, the Principal of YPK Air Kenanga High School, Muchlis Supani, S.Pd., stated that the visit to Polman Babel was his first direct visit to the campus. However, several Polman Babel lecturers had previously visited the school through research and community service activities.
He explained that one of the ongoing initiatives is mentoring the development of moringa plants, specifically regarding good cutting and grafting techniques as part of strengthening practice-based learning.
Furthermore, Muchlis explained that YPK Air Kenanga High School, which was established on January 15, 2023, currently has 10th and 11th grade students. Therefore, collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a key factor in supporting the school's quality improvement towards higher accreditation.
"If the school's accreditation improves to an A, public trust will certainly increase, allowing YPK Air Kenanga High School graduates to continue their education through the SNBP (National Student Admissions Program), which always takes the school's accreditation score into account," he said.
"Closing the meeting, I am very grateful for Polman Babel's support for this collaboration, which has brought great benefits to YPK Air Kenanga High School," he concluded.
