Yogyakarta, 6–24 July 2026 – The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), continues to strengthen its commitment to the internationalization of higher education through the International Summer Course on Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development 2026, organized in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the Australian National University (ANU), with funding support from the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan (NCP), the UGM EQUITY Grant for Academic Innovation and Internationalization, and PT Dynata Inovasi Corporalab.
The program reflects a shared commitment to enhancing students’ global competencies through cross-cultural learning, international academic experiences, and stronger institutional partnerships between Indonesia and Australia. The New Colombo Plan aims to deepen participants’ understanding of the Indo-Pacific region while fostering Asia literacy through immersive and structured educational experiences.
This year’s program welcomed 11 Australian students, comprising four students from the Australian National University (ANU) and seven students from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Throughout the four-week program, participants engaged in a wide range of academic and cultural activities, including the Indonesian Language and Culture Learning (INCULS) program, lectures delivered by international experts, bioinformatics and Geographic Information System (GIS) practical sessions, next-generation sequencing (NGS) sample preparation, field excursions, the Biodiversity Summit, and a community-based conservation program with Ramban Rimba in Petungkriyono, Central Java.
The participation of New Colombo Plan students forms an integral part of the Faculty’s International Summer Course, which carries the theme “From Ecosystems to Repositories: Data-Driven Insights into Tropical Biodiversity.” Through laboratory work, academic discussions, and field-based learning, participants gained a comprehensive understanding of Indonesia’s rich tropical biodiversity while developing competencies in biodiversity data analysis and strengthening their intercultural communication and collaboration skills.
During the first week of the program, Prof. Ian Menz, Head of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), accompanied the seven UTS students throughout various academic and field activities. In addition to supporting the students, Prof. Menz’s visit provided an opportunity to discuss the future direction of collaboration between UTS and the Faculty of Biology UGM. The discussions explored several strategic initiatives, including expanding student mobility opportunities, enhancing student exchange programs, exploring the development of a double degree program, and strengthening broader academic and research collaborations. These discussions reflect the strong commitment of both institutions to advancing international partnerships that contribute to excellence in higher education, research, and globally enriching learning experiences for students.
The Faculty of Biology UGM’s participation in the New Colombo Plan 2026 further reinforces its position as a strategic partner for leading international universities in delivering high-quality global learning experiences. This collaboration is expected not only to broaden students’ academic perspectives but also to strengthen research networks, facilitate knowledge exchange, and foster long-term partnerships between Indonesia and Australia.
Furthermore, the initiative contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing high-quality international experiential learning opportunities, SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strengthening global collaboration among higher education institutions, as well as SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through education and research focused on tropical biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
