Yogyakarta, 4 November 2024 – Faculty of Biology UGM received a visit from Medical Bioinformatics Expert from National Central University (NCU), Taiwan, Dr. Hui-Yin Chang. The visit took place at the Faculty of Biology UGM, attended by Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc. as Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs. Also present were several lecturers with a focus on biomedical research, including Dr.biol.hom. Nastiti Wijayanti from the Animal Physiology Laboratory, Dr.rer.nat. Abdul Rahman Siregar, M.Biotech from the Microbiology Laboratory, and Tyas Iksan Hikmawan, Ph.D. from the Biochemistry Laboratory, as well as an NCU alumni and researcher at the Integrated Genome Factory (IGF) Faculty of Biology, Raden Aditya Aryandi, M.Sc.
Dr. Eko as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs welcomed the visit. He said that the Faculty of Biology had established good communication and initiated cooperation since Prof. Chien-Chia Wang, Dean for College of Health Sciences & Technology, NCU Taiwan some time ago. Dr. Eko also conveyed the profile of the Faculty of Biology, from study program profiles, facilities to international collaborations that are ongoing to date.
Dr. Hui-Yin Chang appreciated the opportunity for discussion and explained information about the Department of Biomedical Science and Engineering. She conveyed the potential for collaboration with experts and professors in the fields of bio-engineering, bio-materials, bio-medicine and bio-informatics. This matter was also discussed with lecturers at the Faculty of Biology who have research related to biomedicine. Dr. Chang expressed her enthusiasm for collaborative projects that could be initiated either with her in the field of bioinformatics, or with other NCU professors.
In this discussion, student exchange collaboration with the potential for double degrees with the College of Health Science and Technology NCU was also initiated. Experts from both institutions can also work together in guiding students through joint supervision, as well as collaborative research and publications through joint publications and joint authorship.
The collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and NCU is expected to be part of the Faculty of Biology’s commitment to its role in sustainable development in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely healthy living (SDG 3), inclusive quality education for all groups (SDG 4), as well as partnerships in achieving sustainable goals (SDG 17).