FPIK, SEMARANG – The Merdeka Campus – Merdeka Learning Program which has been implemented by the Indonesian Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Makariem since 2019, continues to be developed in various universities. Diponegoro University (UNDIP) is no exception, especially the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK). The program is in accordance with UNDIP’s goal as a research university, namely to produce COMPLETE graduates, and excel in the national and international arena.

FPIK’s efforts in supporting the Merdeka Campus – Merdeka Learning program have been applied for a long time. FPIK has established many cooperative relationships with overseas campuses, in addition to the traces of alumni achievements that have increased FPIK’s credibility in the community. One of the alumni of FPIK, named Yelfia, who has succeeded in becoming a role model in the world of processed fish food business. Previously, Yelfia was a student of the Water Resources Management Study Program, FPIK UNDIP. Thanks to her persistence, tenacity, motivation, spirit of learning innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, now Yelfia has succeeded in starting a fish-processed food business labeled MaRiSa Food, which is academically outside her discipline. Yelfia’s fish-processed food business is included in the category of Fishery Products Technology disciplines.

Yelfia admitted that her success in starting this business was inseparable from the role of FPIK UNDIP in guiding her when she was in college. “Yes, that’s right, when I was in college, I was very interested in entrepreneurship courses, from there I learned a lot,” said Yelfia.

In Yelfia’s hands, catfish becomes a variety of interesting processed products. He founded MaRiSa Food in 2011 by making food products made from catfish. Initially he only processed catfish into shredded catfish but has now grown to produce various processed fish products such as ladrik, skin chips, crispy fillet, meatballs, fish rolls, nuggets, meatball tofu, shredded pastel and otak-otak.

“The business I’m in now is thanks to my educational background in the Department of Fisheries. After graduating from college, I worked in a national private company, which is engaged in fish processing. I worked there for three years, I resigned and the next 1.5 years I started a fish processing business with work experience and academic knowledge. Of course the capital is patience, tenacity, continuously innovating and always being consistent to produce hygienic, safe and nutritious products,” she said.

Photo: Two variants of MaRISa Food

“The initial marketing of MaRISa Food products was done door-to-door, through social media, then obtained a Household Industry Production (PIRT) permit and joined the Purbalingga Regency Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Office program until finally entering modern shops. Our products do not use harmful ingredients such as borax, MSG and other preservatives, so the quality is guaranteed and safe for consumption. In the future, I hope not only to process catfish but also to be varied and innovate in processing other types of fish,” she continued.

Yelfia said FPIK is a major that matches her passion, she entered the Interest and Ability Search (PMDK) class of 2002 and graduated in 2006. “My experience as an UNDIP student is a lot, especially getting knowledge that is very useful and I need it in the world of work, I have a fighting spirit, struggle within limitations, divide my time between being an academic and organizing,” she said.

The Merdeka Campus – Merdeka Learning Program is a form of institutional support including universities in running the Merdeka Campus program. It is hoped that by holding a program like this it can help the government in producing superior and outstanding human resources. (Excerpt from: undip.ac.id | Adm)

Find out more about MaRISa Food on Instagram and Website.