Yogyakarta, 22 February 2024 – Faculty of Biology UGM received a visit from two professors from the Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Australia; Professor Wilhelmina Huston and Distinguished Professor Alaina Ammit. The visit was received in the KPTU Meeting Room, Faculty of Biology UGM and was also attended by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Wiratni, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. as Secretary of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and Relations of UGM, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Sukirno, M.Sc., Ph.D. as Head of the Undergraduate Study Program, Dr.rer.nat. Andhika Puspito Nugroho as Head of the Masters Study Program, and Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, M.S., Ph.D. as Secretary of the Office of International Affairs, Faculty of Biology, UGM.
Prof. Budi warmly welcomed the presence of the two professors from UTS Australia. He said the visit was a continuation of the initiation of collaboration between the Faculty of Biology and the Faculty of Science UTS, last October 2023. Mrs. Wiratni further added that UGM had also collaborated with UTS so that the discussion with UTS was a good follow-up to the extension of UTS’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UGM. Mrs. Wiratni also mentioned the potential for research and academic collaboration through KONEKSI (Knowledge Partnership Platform Australia-Indonesia) and LPDP scholarships.
Dr. Eko as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs of the Faculty of Biology then gave an explanation regarding the profile of the Faculty of Biology and potential collaboration that could be implemented with the Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney. The explanation regarding the curriculum and undergraduate and master’s study programs was then also presented by the Head of the Undergraduate Study Program and the Head of the Master’s Study Program, Faculty of Biology, UGM.
Prof. Willia and Prof. Alaina expressed their enthusiasm for the potential for collaboration, especially in the double degree program in the field of biomedical science which can be supported by LPDP scholarships and research collaboration through KONEKSI. Prof. Alaina also conveyed UTS’s advantages in the field of environmental science as well as disease understanding and diagnosis in the biomedical field. Apart from that, the agreed collaboration is regarding the International Summer Course through the New Colombo Plan Program.
The visit continued with a tour of various buildings and facilities at the Faculty of Biology UGM and continued with a visit to the Integrated Research Center Laboratory (LPPT) Gadjah Mada University guided by Prof Yusril Yusuf. Prof Wilia and Prof Alaina also visited the Butterfly Park belonging to the Faculty of Biology which is located in the Wisdom Park area of Universitas Gadjah Mada.
It is hoped that the discussion and visit will be a good follow-up step in the collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and the Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney. This collaboration also shows the Faculty of Biology’s commitment to expanding connections and collaboration with various partners to improve the quality of education, in line with its support for the Sustainable Development Goals for improving education and expanding cooperation (SDG 4 and 17).