Leipzig, 8 August 2026 – The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), continues to strengthen its academic and research collaboration with Leipzig University, Germany, through the participation of seven undergraduate students in the One Health Summer Camp, held at Leipzig University from 8–22 August 2026. The program marks a continuation of the longstanding collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and Leipzig University in education, student mobility, research, and the advancement of the One Health approach.
This year, seven students from the Faculty of Biology UGM are participating in the One Health Summer Camp alongside students from Badr University, Egypt. The UGM delegation also includes Dr.rer.nat. Abdul Rahman Siregar, M.Biotech. as a faculty member and academic supervisor. The delegation is further accompanied by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, and Prof. Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs.
The One Health Summer Camp builds upon a similar program conducted in the previous year. In the 2025 International Summer Camp on One Health, the Faculty of Biology UGM sent 10 students to Leipzig University, where they participated alongside students from Leipzig University and Badr University. The program provided an interdisciplinary learning environment focused on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, while also fostering knowledge exchange and international academic networks.
The continuity of the program demonstrates that the collaboration between UGM and Leipzig University extends beyond student exchange and international exposure, and continues to develop into a broader academic and research partnership. The collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and the Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Leipzig University, has been strengthened through research activities, visiting professorships, training programs, and academic initiatives focusing on the One Health approach.
The partnership has also progressed through discussions on long-term academic programs between the two institutions. During the Faculty of Biology UGM’s visit to Leipzig University in August 2025, both institutions initiated discussions on the development of a Doctoral Double Degree Program linking the Faculty of Biology UGM and the Faculty of Life Sciences, Leipzig University. This initiative represents a strategic step toward expanding international higher education networks while strengthening the integration of education and research.
In the field of research, the UGM–Leipzig collaboration has also continued to expand through research funding support from Leipzig Zoo and Leipzig University in 2025, involving Dr.rer.nat. Abdul Rahman Siregar, M.Biotech. The funding supports collaborative research involving the Faculty of Biology UGM, Leipzig University, and the Komodo National Park, particularly research on the Komodo dragon microbiome and capacity building in conservation areas. The collaboration has also opened opportunities for Master’s students to become involved in joint research activities.
This research collaboration demonstrates how international partnerships can connect academic expertise with practical needs in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. Joint research initiatives also provide opportunities for students and researchers to gain experience in cross-institutional research while expanding academic networks and laying the foundation for sustained international collaboration.
Through the 2026 One Health Summer Camp, the Faculty of Biology UGM once again provides its students with opportunities to gain academic experience in an international environment, engage with students from different countries, and explore the One Health approach from a multidisciplinary perspective. The program forms part of the Faculty’s commitment to preparing graduates with strong academic competencies, international exposure, and the ability to collaborate in addressing complex challenges at the intersection of biodiversity, health, and the environment.
Looking ahead, the Faculty of Biology UGM and Leipzig University remain committed to further expanding their collaboration through student and faculty mobility, joint degree development, collaborative research, and international academic networking. The partnership is expected to further strengthen the contributions of both institutions to the advancement of science based on the One Health and biodiversity approaches, while supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
