Sydney, 17 October 2023 – Faculty of Biology UGM through its Dean and Vice Dean visited the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in order to increase recognition and collaboration to expand its network on the international stage. UTS is one of the world’s best universities, ranked 90th according to the QS World Ranking. Founded in 1988, this relatively young university has entered the ranks of the world’s best universities in contributing to sustainable development. UTS has grown very rapidly in the last decade considering that UTS was ranked 284th in 2013 according to the QS World Ranking, a significant increase than its ranking this year. UTS also offers the best on-campus learning programs with leading facilities, located in the city-center of Sydney, Australia which is known as one of the best cities for students in the world.
The visit of the Faculty of Biology Dean’s Team is a follow-up to the collaboration that has been initiated with UTS since November 2022 by the Chancellor of Universitas Gadjah Mada and the Dean of the Faculty of Biology. The collaboration discussion with UTS was attended by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as Dean and Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs at the Faculty of Biology together with Prof. Ian Menz as Head of School of Life Science, Faculty of Life Science UTS, Dr. Leigh Martin as Program Director for Environmental Science Undergraduate Program, Prof. Shauna Murray as Program Director for Marine Biology Undergraduate Program, Prof. Alaina Ammit as Associate Dean for Faculty of Science UTS, and Prof. Hui Chen as Associate Head of School for School of Life Science, Faculty of Science, UTS.
The initiation of collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and UTS, especially with the Faculty of Science, is planned to be established within the scope of student and staff mobility, including student exchange, both through the IISMA and independent program schemes, visiting professors and keynote speakers/invited speakers for general lectures, including contribution to the International Summer Course (ISC) agenda of the Faculty of Biology in 2024.
School of Life Science, Faculty of Science, UTS also plans to delegate lecturers and students to the Faculty of Biology UGM through the New Colombo Plan (NCP) collaboration which will be initiated in 2024. In addition, research collaboration will be carried out through the KONEKSI research grant (Knowledge Partnership Platform Australia-Indonesia). This collaboration plan is certainly in line with the Faculty of Biology’s commitment in their support on Sustainable Development Program (SDGs) to improving inclusive education and increasing research (SDG 4 and 17).
Through this visit, Prof. Budi as Dean of the Faculty of Biology hopes that the quality of international collaboration at the Faculty of Biology UGM will continue to improve, especially through collaboration with the School of Life Science, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Australia.