Assalamu’alaikum wr wb,

First of all, I would like to extend my gratitude to Allah SWT, the most gracious, the most merciful. Due to His bless, the FIRST 2021 can be held. The honorable, FIRST 2021 keynote speakers,

Dra. Nana Yuliana, MA., Ph.D., as The Indonesian LBBP Ambassador for the Republic of Cuba, accredited to the Bahamas, Republic of Dominican, Republic of Haiti and Jamica

Prof. Ramaraj Boopathy., from U Alcee Fortier Distinguished Service Professor of biological sciences at the Nicholls State University, USA

Dr. Ing. Ahmad Taqwa, MT., as Director of Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya

Please let me deliver my warm welcome to all keynote speakers and all participant of FIRST 2021. It is my great pleasure to have you in this event. Although, there are so many obstacles that should be faced in the pandemic situation, however, as young generation, we should be optimistic, stay strong and be active in searching and finding the solution. The FIRST 2021 as the DIES of State Polytechnic of Sriwijaya annual event will become one of the media to support those activities. The researchers could share knowledge, find partners, and enlarge the collaboration through this event.

Based on the change in the model of the teaching learning activity that focuses on the MERDEKA BELAJAR, State Polytechnic of Sriwijaya has a big desire in getting acceleration in the internationalization of the institution. One of them by improving the overseas and industrial collaboration, especially in joint research and joint publication. In the beginning of 2021, the research and community service unit in Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya has launched new schemes of research and community service, namely the Overseas Collaboration Research and Overseas Collaboration Community Service. Thanks to God, those schemes have attracted researchers not only from Asia but also several other countries outside Asia, such as: research and community service collaboration with Al Baha University from Saudi Arabia, with Ferdowsi University of Mashhad from Iran, and with Princess Sumaya University of Technology from Jordan, as well as several other foreign universities.

In this occasion, I also would like to welcome all the researchers that become the collaborators in our new scheme of research and community service. It is our great honour to have you as our collaborators.

The honourable participants,

At this time, State Polytechnic of Sriwijaya has held 5 times of FIRST. This 5th FIRST seminar has been conjugated with the 3rd National Seminar on Community Service SNAPTEKMAS. (National seminar of applied technology for public). All of these are the efforts to improve the quality of Polsri lecturers which significantly have a positive effect on the learning process of Polsri students.

Before ending my speech, I would like to congratulate the participants of The FIRST 2021. May the noble efforts, support, and cooperation of researchers in this conference will continue. Special thanks to the organizer and co-organizer committee of The FIRST 2021 for the hard work and the commitment in realizing this conference. Do maintain the spirit of working in a team and continue to unite in order to display a culture of excellence in the eyes of the country and the world.

Wassalamu’alaikum wr wb