Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) achieves another remarkable milestone in the field of higher education by inaugurating another distinguished professor. On July 5, 2023, Prof. Dr. Ir. Adolf Jan Nexson Parhusip, M. Si., a faculty member of the Food Technology Program at UPH, was officially inaugurated as a Professor in the field of Food Microbiology. This appointment was formalized through a Decree Letter (Surat Keputusan or SK) from the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Mendikbudristek) dated May 1, 2023.

Prof. Adolf Parhusip has made significant contributions to education and research for many years. He has been a lecturer since 1990 and became a permanent faculty member at UPH in 2009. The appointment of Prof. Adolf Parhusip as a professor adds to UPH’s achievements in producing 25 Professors across various fields of science.

During the inauguration ceremony, Prof. Adolf presented a scientific oration titled “Development of Plant-Based Synbiotic Yogurt with Microencapsulation of Lactic Acid Bacteria to Support Public Health.” He emphasized the development of synbiotic yogurt using plant-based ingredients, which offer various health benefits. This finding provides an alternative for individuals who prefer products made from plant-based sources and avoid animal-based ingredients.

“Synbiotic yogurt is a combination of probiotics and prebiotics. It is made by combining probiotic bacteria with plant-based foods containing prebiotics, such as inulin found in red lentils, purple sweet potatoes, and shallots. These plant-based ingredients meet the quality standards of synbiotic yogurt due to their high fiber content, which is beneficial for the human digestive system. The concept of fermentation, synbiotics, and microencapsulation are applied in the development of a healthy and beneficial synbiotic yogurt product for the community,” explained Prof. Adolf.

Prof. Adolf Parhusip’s research revealed specific inulin contents in the prebiotic products derived from red lentils (approximately 0.4602 ± 0.03 mg of inulin per milligram), purple sweet potato flour (with an inulin content of 30.17%), and shallot (about 0.04345 ± 0.00385 mg of inulin per milligram for each sample). These inulin levels demonstrate that the synbiotic yogurt he developed meets the quality standards as specified in SNI 2981:2009.

Prof. Adolf stated that this invention will be further developed in collaboration with other faculties, to create commercial products in the future.

“With this finding, I hope the public can easily and conveniently obtain health benefits. Additionally, I also hope that more people will become discerning in choosing food that is beneficial for their health,” said Prof. Adolf.

UPH Associate Provost for Academic and Innovation and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FaST) Eric Jobiliong, Ph.D., commends Professor Adolf’s exceptional achievement. He expressed, “As a faculty, we are grateful for the processes that Professor Adolf has undergone. We believe that his research results will not only benefit the faculty and UPH but also have a positive impact on Indonesian society.”

UPH Rector Dr. (Hon.) Jonathan L. Parapak., M. Eng., Sc., also delivered a speech, expressing his immense pride in UPH’s achievements in producing professors across various fields of knowledge. According to him, these accomplishments serve as tangible evidence of UPH’s unwavering commitment to advancing education in Indonesia.

“I am grateful for the research conducted by Professor Adolf; the results are highly satisfying and beneficial for the community. My family loves yogurt and we are very thrilled with this finding. We are also grateful for Prof. Adolf’s appointment as the 25th full professor at UPH,” said the UPH Rector.

Higher Education Services Institution (LLDIKTI) Region 3 Head of General Affairs Department Noviyanto S. T., MMSI, also delivered a speech. He stated, “We deeply appreciate UPH, a private university in LLDIKTI Region 3, for consistently producing. Last year, UPH received an award as the university with the highest number of professor inaugurations, and we hope to see the same remarkable achievements this year. The inauguration process of Professor Adolf went smoothly without any revisions. He is now officially the 16th professor in LLDIKTI Region 3. We have high hopes that UPH will continue to produce more professors in the future.”