Yogyakarta, 5 November 2024 – Faculty of Biology UGM initiated a double degree collaboration with the University of Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). This initiation was conveyed in an online meeting with Dr. Maria Genaleen Q. Diaz from the Institute of Biological Sciences Director, University of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB), and Dr. Mom. Carmin as IBS Graduate Program Committee. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Bambang Retnoaji as Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation and Alumni Affairs and Nur Indah Septriani, Ph.D. as Head of the International Affairs Office, Faculty of Biology, UGM.
During the meeting, the initiation of a 2+2 double degree collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and UPLB was discussed. Dr. Ma and Dr. Maria appreciated this initiation. Both of them said that UPLB already has a double degree program running with 13 universities in the United Kingdom and Australia, especially for double degree doctoral programs, but did not rule out the possibility of double degree collaboration for masters. The program covers the fields of genetics, botany, microbiology, and molecular biotechnology.
Dr. Eko and Dr. Bambang added that the initiation of the double degree collaboration could be supported by the SEARCA (Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture) scholarship. It is hoped that this collaboration will attract more students to pursue their education at the two universities.
The collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and UPLB is expected to be part of the Biology Faculty’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 achieve sustainable goals (SDG 17).