Blog: Blogs SMART Scholarship sharpens Engla’s skills to manage the resources of oil palm plantations

All efforts undertaken by Engla Paturesi to pursue education in college through the SMART Scholarship Diploma Programme have now come to fruition. Currently he has served as Vice President of Agronomy Plantation Sinarmas 6 in Sampit, Central Kalimantan. As the best graduate of the Program Keahlian Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit (Oil Palm Plantation Expertise Programme), he said, “My motivation to join the SMART Scholarship Programme was to study at one of Indonesia’s top universities and directly work at the leading oil palm company in Indonesia, even in the world.”

As a man born in Bangkinang, living and growing up in an area where palm oil is a main commodity has influenced his interest to work in the palm oil industry. Moreover, one of his family members also worked in one of Sinar Mas’ plantations in Riau.

Engla still remembers the rigorous selection process ten years ago, and to finally be able to study for two years at the prestigious Institut Pertanian Bogor. In addition, Engla also feels proud and happy because he was able to help his family’s finances  since the tuition and living expenses during his college years were entirely paid by PT SMART Tbk from 2007 to 2009.

Comprehensive knowledge and skills about oil palm plantations were obtained by Engla from SMART Scholarship Programme, such as anatomy, physiology, sociology, plantation management from estate management to harvesting. He also expressed his satisfaction in being able to learn directly from the lecturers who were experienced in the field of plantation and joining Praktek Kerja Lapangan (Field Practice) that made it challenging to gain practical experience that could not obtained in classes.

One of Engla’s most memorable courses during the SMART Scholarship Programme was Plantation Management. “This lesson has taught me how to manage the available human resources to work effectively and efficiently. It is very useful especially when I was still working in the field as an Assistant of Agronomy.” Now Engla has become more skilled in analyzing, processing data, thinking mathematically and logically.

Engla is grateful to become a growing professional with PT SMART Tbk, sharing, “The company offers a high career path and also a clear and measurable performance appraisal system. Leaders of the company are also people who are dedicated to their work. I have learned a lot from their experience and other new things I am exposed to during my work. ”

Are you also interested to join SMART Scholarship Programme or have you already enrolled? Don’t miss the latest SMART Scholarship Programme information here