On Wednesday, 18th May 2022 at 13.00 WIB, a meeting between the Faculty of Biology UGM and the University of Leeds was held online via a zoom meeting. From the Faculty of Biology, the meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr., Sc. as Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Rina Sri Kasiamdari, S.Si., Ph.D. as Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App., Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service Cooperation and Alumni, Sukirno, S.Sc., Ph.D. as the Head of the Undergraduate Biology Study Program, Zuliyati Rohmah, S.Si. M.Sc. Ph.D. Eng. as the Head of the IUP, Nur Indah Septriani, S.Si. Msc. Ph.D. as the Manager of the Biology Office of International Affairs, Emi Dwi Suryanti, S.Si., M.Sc. as Head of the Academic and Student Affairs Section, Mutia Asri Kairunisa and Andari Sekarningrum as prospective double degree students and two academic staffs. The parents of the two prospective students were also present, namely Mr. and Mrs. Iwan Sadono and Mr. Dwi Yulianto. Meanwhile, from the University of Leeds, was attended by Ms. Eileen Wong.
This meeting aims to provide information as clear as possible to prospective students and their parents about the double degree program. The meeting was opened by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr., Sc. Whom expressed his appreciation for the meeting and explained that the Faculty of Biology has international program since 2019 and prioritized having international experiences. The meeting was then continued by Ms. Eileen Wong. She gave a background presentation, an overview of the advantages of the University of Leeds and the programs available to prospective students. Eileen also explained about the application procedure which is very easy to do. Students only need to upload all the required documents. Once they are eligible to apply, Leeds will then process the application.
The program initiated by UGM and Leeds is a 2+2 program which means students must complete their 1st and 2nd-year of Bachelor’s Degree studies at UGM before the students are eligible to transfer to Leeds for the 3rd and 4th-year. At Leeds, the students need to study all the modules, compulsory and optional modules for both years. The program structured at Leeds is, in the 4th year the students need to do a dissertation or thesis fully, and finished it before the students are allowed to graduate. Once they finished their two years at Leeds, they will get a Leeds certificate. It will be Leeds certificate whether or not the students need to come back again to UGM to do another thesis. That would be up to UGM to organize.
In the discussion session, parents of prospective students enthusiastically dig up information about the double degree program. Among the things discussed was the existence of working visas for students who have completed a double degree. This visa is a new program launched by the UK government. This visa is specifically for recent graduates who will be looking for an employment in the UK.
The meeting was closed with the hope that prospective students can apply and upload all documents before 30 June 2022 so that everything can run on time. This requires good coordination between students, UGM and Leeds.