As a follow-up to the collaboration initiation last June, Universitas Gadjah Mada through their Office of International Affairs held a collaborative discussion with the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, Friday, August 10th 2023. The discussion was attended by 15 participants from Universitas Gadjah Mada and the University of Warwick. The discussion was attended by representatives from the Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Psychology, Faculty of Engineering, and the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada. From the Faculty of Biology attended by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. From the University of Warwick attended by Vicky Strudwick as International Partnership Manager for East and South East Asia, and Dr. Irwanda Laory and Dr. Yudhi Ariadi from the School of Engineering, University of Warwick.
The discussion began with introductions and collaborations that had been discussed or planned with the University of Warwick. Dr. Eko conveyed that the collaboration between the Faculty of Biology and the University of Warwick had been going on for a long time through collaborative research conducted by expert lecturers from the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, MS, M.Sc. and Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, M.Si with Prof. Jose Gutierrez Marcos from the School of Life Science University of Warwick. Furthermore, the Graduate School UGM delivered an introduction regarding the Disaster Management program and Biotechnology Study Program. Collaboration in the form of Joint Supervision, General Lecture and Research is highly expected with the University of Warwick. From the Faculty of Psychology conveyed the initiation of potential collaboration and their closest agenda, namely an international conference while from the Faculty of Engineering explained the potential for double degree collaboration following the research collaboration they had previously carried out.
Vicky as the International Partnership Manager of the University of Warwick appreciated the collaboration initiatives that were discussed. She said that collaboration could be carried out in the scope of research related to health to sustainable development and potential for Doctoral Joint Supervision collaboration up to a double degree.
Dr. Irwanda added that collaboration must be supported by scholarships such as the LPDP which is supported by the government at both the doctoral and master levels. The potential for double degree collaboration 2+2 and 3+1 is very likely to be discussed again. Even so, there are still many limitations from the LPDP which can limit collaboration and there needs to be special communication with scholarship providers for the best mechanism, especially in the double degree program.
This discussion is a great bridge to increase the collaborative network of Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Faculty of Biology with the University of Warwick after the research collaboration that had taken place previously. In addition, this collaboration is a commitment from the Faculty of Biology UGM in supporting sustainable development and in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs); quality education (SDGs 4) and partnership for the goals (SDGs 17).