Doctoral Program in Agricultural Science Conducts Oral Qualifying Examination on Mealybug Diversity and Its Biological Management

The Doctoral Program in Agricultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu, conducted an Oral Qualifying Examination as part of the academic requirements for its PhD students. The examination was held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Graduate Meeting Room, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu.

As part of this academic stage, Mehreen Ayaz PhD student in Agricultural Science presented and defended her proposed dissertation titled “Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Diversity and Natural Enemies on Palmae Plants, and Their Biological Management Using Predators, Parasitoids, and Botanical Extracts.”

The examination committee was chaired by Prof. Agustin Zarkani, M.Sc., Ph.D., and consisted of Prof. Ir. Dwinardi Apriyanto, M.Sc., Ph.D., Prof. Ir. Nanik Setyowati, M.Sc., Ph.D., Dr. Mimi Sutrawati, S.P., M.Si., and Dr. Yenny Sariahsi, S.P., M.Sc. The oral qualifying examination serves as a crucial milestone in the doctoral study process, designed to evaluate students’ understanding of their research fields, mastery of theoretical and methodological aspects, and readiness to advance to dissertation research. Through this process, the Doctoral Program in Agricultural Science reaffirms its commitment to nurturing research excellence and producing scholars capable of contributing to scientific advancement and sustainable agricultural development.