The Department of Electrical Engineering at Diponegoro University (Undip) once again presented an international academic event by holding a Visiting Professor public lecture on Monday, October 27. This event was held in a hybrid format and featured a guest speaker from the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM), Assoc. Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Tan Chee Wei, with the topic “Harnessing Solar Energy: Photovoltaic Technologies and Applications”.
The event was officially opened by the representative of the Head of Department, Ir. Mochammad Facta, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., who in his speech emphasized the importance of developing renewable energy, especially solar energy, as one of the foundations of the future national energy system. He stressed that understanding photovoltaic technology is a strategic competency for students and researchers.
In his presentation, Dr. Tan Chee Wei—who is an Associate Professor in the field of renewable energy—presented comprehensive material related to the latest developments in photovoltaic technology. The discussion covered the basic principles of solar energy conversion, challenges in solar cell efficiency, material innovations, and its use in various industrial and community sectors. He also emphasized the great opportunities for Indonesian academics to contribute to the development of research and implementation of green energy technology.
The event was moderated by Alfia Putri Wulandari, S.T., M.T., who kept the discussion interesting and interactive. The enthusiasm of the participants was evident from the high level of participation in the question and answer session, both from Undip lecturers and students as well as participants from outside the institution. Various critical questions regarding research and the application of photovoltaic technology in Indonesia were posed to the speakers.
Through this Visiting Professor activity, the Undip Electrical Engineering Department hopes to further encourage the academic community’s interest in developing renewable energy research, particularly photovoltaics. In addition, this event is expected to open the door to more concrete and sustainable research collaboration between Undip and UTM.