Paramaribo, April 15, 2025 – The delegation of the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) continued the second day of their official visit to Suriname with a number of strategic agendas to expand the international cooperation network and establish friendship with the Javanese diaspora in the country. The delegation was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, accompanied by Dr. Slamet Widiyanto (Vice Dean for Finance, Assets, and Human Resources Affairs), and Dr. Eko Agus Suyono (Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs).
The agenda of the second day of the visit began with a meeting with Dr. Marciano Dasai, Minister of Spatial Planning and Environment of Suriname who is also a UGM alumnus. This meeting discussed the potential for cooperation in sending Surinamese staff for further studies at the Faculty of Biology UGM. In addition, both parties also explored research and development collaboration in various strategic areas such as food security, biodiversity database management, carbon credit, bioprospecting, renewable energy, agriculture, and climate resilience. In the afternoon, the delegation met with Surinamese parliamentarian Evert Legiran Kerto, as well as the management of the Pertjaja Luhur Party, the largest Javanese-based party in Suriname. The discussion focused on opportunities for cooperation in human resource development and technology transfer, as a form of synergy between Indonesian higher education institutions and elements of the Javanese community in Suriname.
The visit continued to Saramakka District, about 50 km from the capital city of Paramaribo, to meet with Javanese community leaders, namely Mr. H. Subari and his family: Mr. David K. Karso and Mrs. Noer Latifah Laily. This meeting was an important event to introduce the Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs of the Faculty of Biology UGM, as well as to strengthen relations between UGM and the Javanese diaspora community.
Previously, the delegation was also accompanied by staff from the Indonesian Embassy in Suriname, Mrs. Anissa and Mrs. Risa, during a visit to Mrs. Carla Grossman, Director of the QSI International School of Suriname. This visit aims to promote the International Program (IUP) of the Faculty of Biology UGM to prospective international students.
This visit is part of the Faculty of Biology UGM’s efforts to encourage the internationalization of higher education and strengthen Indonesia’s role in the global arena through cross-country educational and research cooperation, especially with the Indonesian diaspora community.
Through this initiative, it is hoped that the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Suriname can be strengthened, not only in the context of education, but also in the economic, social, and cultural sectors. This initiative also prioritizes the principles of sustainable development which are part of a shared commitment to the SDGs, especially support for inclusive education for all groups (SDG 4 and 10), as well as support for research that contributes to environmental conservation and handling climate change (SDG 13).