Bogor, 26 February 2025. SEAMEO BIOTROP and the Education and Culture Office of Muara Enim Regency formalized their collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Wednesday, 26 February 2025. The partnership aims to enhance the competencies of teachers and education personnel in science, technology, and environment-based teaching; improve students' skills in biotechnology, agriculture, and ecology through educational programs and hands-on practice; and provide training and capacity building for educators and education personnel in Muara Enim  to adopt more innovative and effective learning approaches.

Dr. Elis Rosdiawati, Acting Director/Deputy Director for Administration of SEAMEO BIOTROP, and Marsip Agustam, S.Pd., M.Pdi., Head of Personnel Development at the Muara Enim Education Office, represented their respective institutions in the MOA signing. While Dr. Elis officially signed the agreement, Mr. Marsip provided an initial endorsement.

Participants toured SEAMEO BIOTROP's research facilities, including the stingless bee garden, hydroponic area, sensory garden, aquatic garden (edible fish), mushroom cultivation and mushroom museum.

The Muara Enim delegation included officials such as Marsip Agustam, M. Abduh Helmi, Khoirunnidah, Dian Wulandari, and Erlan Firnando, while SEAMEO BIOTROP was represented by Dr. Elis Rosdiawati, Dr. Doni Yusri (Deputy Director for Programs), and several managers, supervisors, and assistants.

Discussions covered strategies to improve science education in Muara Enim, particularly for school teachers. Key topics included enriching students' science learning, integrating tropical biology education, urban agriculture, and aligning with national education programs by promoting healthy nutrition and hands-on science practices.

SEAMEO BIOTROP proposed initiatives such as biodiversity education visits, expert sharing sessions in tropical biology, internship programs (including a three-month capstone project and regular programs for fresh graduates), research fellowships, and student fieldwork opportunities. Additional training programs were discussed, covering urban farming, hydroponics, aquaponics, container farming, mushroom cultivation, and fish breeding.

Further collaborations may include mentoring schools on biodiversity education, integrating biodiversity studies with IT, and joint initiatives with other SEAMEO Centers (SCI). This MOA marks a significant step toward strengthening science education and environmental awareness in Muara Enim Regency.