UPN “Veteran” Jawa Timur (UPNVJT) as a public university (PTN) in Surabaya with a Public Service Agency status (BLU) has just opened a new study program, named Mechanical Engineering for the Academic Year of 2020/2021 after obtaining a permission from the Minister of Education and Culture on September 15th, 2020 The opening of this new study program followed after 2 other new study programs, namely Tourism (S1), Data Science (S1) and Doctoral Program (S3) of Agribusiness.
The Mechanical Engineering study program under the Faculty of Engineering is one of the fields of science and technology that is quite popular in the community. This study program aims to produce graduates who have a strong basic knowledge of engineering hence they are able to design, manufacture, use, and manage machines and systems related to machinery.
The features of the UPNVJT mechanical engineering study program are in line to its mission, which is to foster innovation to support the industrialization process in the field of biomedical technology. Biomedical technology is related to medical devices such as artificial hips and knees, prosthetic legs, orthotic shoes, etc., where the majority of them are still imported. The manufacturing and production processes of these medical devices are closely related to mechanical engineering, in terms of materials science, tribology, design, and the manufacturing process.
The field of Mechanical Engineering operates at the boundaries of science and engineering, exploring various applications of science from energy conversion, design, manufacturing to metallurgy. This science studies the principles of physics which are then implemented in the analysis, design, manufacture, and maintenance of machines. Therefore, students must deepen their abilities in several branches of science such as mechanics, kinematics, materials engineering, and thermodynamics.
Vice Rector I of UPN “Veteran” Jawa Timur, Dr. Ir. Sukendah, M.Sc. said that the opening of the Mechanical Engineering study program was based on UPNVJT’s five-year strategic plan to develop many study programs that would improve services and opportunities for the community to studying at state universities.
In addition, the opening of the Mechanical Engineering study program was also a recommendation from the Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education, who had previously visited UPNVJT. “The Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education saw many results of research on the effective technology machinery, this could be a very good thing if UPN focuses more on opening a Mechanical Engineering study program hence its development and application can be more useful for the community.” added Sukendah.
Dr. Dra. Jariyah, MP, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering admitted that she is ready to accept new students from the Mechanical Engineering study program which will be allocated around 80 students in 2 classes. “From HR, there will be 7 lecturers, 5 of them have earned doctorate degrees and are ready to teach new students. Classrooms and laboratory facilities are also ready to be used.”