UNAIR NEWS – Field Work Practice (PKL) is one of the student internship programs aimed at introducing them to the professional world. But what happens when this internship is conducted abroad while simultaneously carrying out research? This extraordinary opportunity was successfully seized by Dini Ramadhania Illah, a student from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR).
Through the international internship program, Illah, along with her colleague Dinda Hasna Aulia, set foot in Malaysia. She carried out her internship for one month, from August 31, 2025, to September 30, 2025, at the University of Malaya (UM). During this period, she conducted a series of research activities that will be published in collaboration with UM.
“I am very happy for this opportunity to do an international internship, where I can complete my internship while conducting research in another country. I see this opportunity as a door opened by God for me to continue developing the knowledge I have gained on campus,” she said.
Internship and research activities
During her internship, Illah also conducted research on the effect of different feed types on Snakehead fish to determine suitable alternatives to commercial feed. In her research, she used two types of alternative feed—Mealworm Meal and Black Soldier Fly (BSF)—and one commercial feed, Fish Meal.
“The parameters we observed were feed digestibility, water quality, FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio) to assess feed efficiency on fish growth, increases in fish length and weight, and their blood profiles. Through these various parameters, we can determine which type of feed is suitable as a substitute for commercial feed,” she explained.
Illah added that during her internship and research at UM, she gained various new insights. She also expressed her excitement at having the opportunity to try out various new laboratory equipment she had never used before.
“I also feel proud that this research will be published in the future, and I will be a co-author alongside my friend. Certainly, this is a special pride for me, as it will be my first publication. Therefore, for my fellow students, never hesitate to take any opportunities provided by the university,” she concluded.
Author: Rifki Sunarsis Ari Adi
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
