Yogyakarta, October 4, 2023 – The Faculty of Biology at UGM initiated collaboration with James Cook University (JCU), one of the universities in Australia. This meeting was a follow-up discussion after the previous discussion with James Cook University in Singapore on Thursday, August 31. The meeting was held virtually and attended by partners from James Cook University, including Cassandra Lee as the Director of Recruitment and Partnerships, Ben Ng as the Assistant Manager in International Management, Shelly Wang as the Senior Regional Manager (Europe, Central Asia & Others), and Carlie Sage as the Communications Manager, International Marketing at James Cook University Australia. From the Faculty of Biology, there were Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc., the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs; Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc., the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs; Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., the Head of the Undergraduate Study Program; and Tyas Iksan Hikmawan, M.Sc., Ph.D., the Secretary of the Office of International Affairs at the Faculty of Biology, UGM.
This discussion was a continuation of the discussion with James Cook University Australia after the Faculty of Biology at UGM had a discussion with James Cook University in Singapore. It is also a flexible follow-up to the collaboration so that students can choose programs at either the Australian or Singaporean campuses. Previously, the initiation of collaboration for student exchange, double degree, and joint supervision had been discussed, supported by the potential of Indonesian government scholarships (LPDP) for master’s and doctoral programs, as well as curriculum matching. The Faculty of Biology, in particular, aims to establish collaboration in the field of marine biology.
This discussion serves as a great opportunity to enhance the collaborative network between Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Faculty of Biology, and James Cook University Australia. It is hoped that through this collaboration, it will support the improvement of education and research at the Faculty of Biology, UGM, and provide students with increased opportunities for international learning. This collaboration is part of the Faculty of Biology’s commitment to expanding connections and partnerships with various collaborators to enhance the quality of education, in line with its support for Sustainable Development Goals for the improvement of education and the expansion of cooperation (SDG 4 and 17).