On Friday, 14 July 2023 at 13.00-15.00, Faculty of Biology UGM received a visit from the Country Director of Conservation International Timor-Leste (CI-TL), Manuel Mendes. His daughter, Sonya Clara Alstonia Winokan Mendes, is an IUP Biology UGM student Class 2022. Manuel Mendes himself is also an alumnus of Faculty of Forestry UGM. The visit was accompanied by Dr. Dwiko Budi Permadi, S.Hut., M.Sc. (Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Faculty of Forestry UGM), who was a classmate of Sonya’s father during his undergraduate studies at Faculty of Forestry UGM in 1995. The visit, which took place in KPTU Meeting Room of Faculty of Biology UGM, was also attended by the Dean of the UGM Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Faculty of Biology UGM, Dr. Bambang Retno Aji, M.Sc., and Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc.
The meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation related to the promotion of the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) of Faculty of Biology UGM and visit plan of delegations from the Faculty of Biology and the Faculty of Forestry UGM to Timor Leste. Apart from that, opportunities for collaboration in research on crocodile conservation and watershed restoration in Timor Leste were also discussed, which are related to watersheds in the Timor NTT region.
It is hoped that the visit will become a forum for cooperation and good relations between Faculty of Biology and Conservation International Timor-Leste, as well as building good relations between the students’ and parents’ sides of the Faculty of Biology UGM.