Leiden, September 25, 2024 – Faculty of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada has once again expanded its recognition in the international arena through collaboration with one of the world’s best universities, Leiden University, the Netherlands. Located in the Gorlaeus Building, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Faculty of Biology UGM officially established a Joint Doctoral Degree Agreement with the Graduate School, Faculty of Science, Leiden University. The official signing was carried out by the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Prof. dr. Jasper Knoester accompanied by Prof. Mirwan Ushada, S.TP., M.App.Life.Sc. as the Director of Research at UGM and Luthfi Nurhidayat, M.Sc. as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Biology UGM and Ph.D. student at the Institute of Biology, Leiden University. The agreement was previously signed by the Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. on the agenda of the 69th Anniversary of the Faculty of Biology, as well as by the Rector of UGM, Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D.
Prof. Jasper expressed his hope that the signing of this MoA will make the cooperation between UGM and Leiden, especially the two Faculties, even closer and there will be immediate follow-up with the presence of Ph.D. students.
Through this opportunity, Prof. Mirwan conveyed that the collaboration between Leiden University and Universitas Gadjah Mada had previously taken place, especially for the INUCoST (Indonesian Netherland University Consortium on Sustainable Future) collaboration which next year will focus on the theme of health, as well as the collaboration to establish the Zebrafish Research Facility. The Research Director UGM hopes that this collaboration can be strengthened by the presence of Ph.D. students who conduct research using the facility to support the development of research in the field of health and testing of Indonesian natural products. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Pieter Schipper as Head of Academic Affairs Science, Prof. dr. Herman Spaink who is also an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Biology UGM, and Prof. Paul Kessler from Hortus Botanicus Leiden University.
Through this collaboration, it is hoped that it can contribute to the development of research with education in Indonesia, in line with support for the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially support for inclusive education through sustainable partnerships (SDG 4 and SDG 17).