Canberra, 16 October 2023 –Faculty of Biology UGM continues to expand its network in the international stage in order to increase recognition and collaboration with various world institutions, one of which is the Australian National University (ANU). Ranked 34^th in the world’s best universities according to the QS World Ranking, ANU is one of the universities with the highest number of Nobel award recipients in the world. One of them is Prof. Brian Schmidt from ANU’s College of Science won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011 for his discovery of the accelerated expansion of the universe. ANU offers learning programs on the best campus with leading facilities, and is located in the heart of the national capital, Canberra, which holds the title of the 5^th healthiest city in the world.

Collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and ANU, especially the College of Science, has been established since 2017 through the Double Degree Program collaboration for bachelor’s and master’s programs and the Faculty of Biology has succeeded in sending 2 undergraduate students, namely Vanessa Wijaya and Sabut Kharisona, to the Double Degree Program at the School of Biology, College of Science, ANU. As a follow-up to this collaboration, the Faculty of Biology Dean’s Team consisting of Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as Dean and Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, returned to visit ANU after their previous visit, last August 2017.

Collaborative discussions were held with the Dean of the ANU College of Science, Prof. Kiaran Kirk together with Prof. Vincent Craig from the Research School of Physics, Prof. Maja Adamska as Head of Biology Teaching and Learning Center and Dr. Sarah Kachovich as Program Manager of the Australian and New Zealand International Ocean Discovery Program Consortium of ANU. The scope of collaboration discussed includes continuing previous collaboration by improving its quality, one of which is by carrying out joint research and publication collaborations, developing and improving the quality of lecturers and students to study at ANU, implementing student and staff mobility including student exchanges both through the IISMA and independent programs as well as Visiting Professor and keynote/invited speakers for lectures, International Conferences (ICBS) in 2025 and International Summer Course (ISC) in 2024, as well as continuing the Double Degree Program for undergraduate (S1) and Postgraduate (S2 and S3) programs for the Double Degree Program in the School of Biology, College of Science ANU. The Double Degree Postgraduate Program collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM and ANU in 2023 is also supported by LPDP scholarships.

This visit is a great step by the Faculty of Biology to improve the quality of education by collaborating with partners at the international level as well as building good relationships, especially with the College of Science, Australian National University, which has been established since 2017. In addition, this collaboration is a commitment of the Faculty of Biology UGM in supports sustainable development and is in line with sustainable development targets (SDGs), namely good quality education (SDGs 4) and revitalization of global partnerships (SDGs 17).

Yogyakarta – 31 August 2023 The Faculty of Biology held an online discussion with James Cook University. The discussion was attended by colleagues from James Cook University, Campus Singapore. There are Cassandra Lee as Director, Recruitment and Partnerships, Ben Ng as Assistant Manager in International Management, Shelly Wang as Senior Regional Manager (Europe, Central Asia and Others), and Assoc. Prof. Roberto Dillon as Academic Head for the School of Science and Technology James Cook University Singapore. From the Faculty of Biology attended by Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc. as Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. as Head of the Undergraduate Study Program, and Tyas Iksan Hikmawan, M.Sc., Ph.D. as Head of the International Affairs Office, Faculty of Biology, UGM.

Dr. Eko as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs of the Faculty of Biology, said that the discussion was a follow-up step from the previous discussion, which discussed the initiation of research collaboration and student exchange. Dr. Eko explained further about the International Undergraduate (IUP) program at the Faculty of Biology and the enthusiasm of students to be able to collaborate with James Cook University, especially their interest in marine biology. He also conveyed the initiation of double degree and joint supervision collaboration. Faculty of Biology itself has collaborated on a double degree with Australia National University and the University of Leeds and has collaborated on joint supervision with Boku University, Greifswald University, and L’Institut Agro Montpellier.

Assoc. Prof. Roberto Dillon expressed his appreciation for the collaboration initiative and explained the study programs at the James Cook University School of Science and Technology on the Singapore Campus that can be collaborated on. There are Bachelor of Business and Environmental Science and Bachelor of Science programs. He added the suitability of the program, especially the Bachelor of Science program with a background in the Faculty of Biology UGM and students’s study interests in marine biology.

Cassandra Lee then conveyed the need for curriculum mapping and further discussions, especially for collaborative student exchange, double degree and joint supervision supported by potential Indonesian government scholarships (LPDP) for master’s and doctoral programs. Cassandra hopes for flexible collaboration so that students can take collaborative work programs with James Cook University on the Australian Campus and the Singapore Campus as well. Shelly Wang and Ben Ng also added follow-up on curriculum matching together with Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. as Head of the UGM Faculty of Biology Undergraduate Study Program for the overall collaboration plan.

This discussion is a great bridge to increase the collaboration network between Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Faculty of Biology and James Cook University. In addition, this collaboration is a commitment from the Faculty of Biology UGM to support sustainable development and is in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely good quality education (SDGs 4) and revitalization of global partnerships (SDGs 17).

Yogyakarta, 25 August 2023 – The Organic Waste Management Training was again held by the Faculty of Biology. On this occasion, 50 participants consisted of groups from the Market Sector Department, Trade and Industry Agency (Disperindag), Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) as well as the Faculty of Pharmacy and Academic Hospital of Universitas Gadjah Mada. Disperindag’s participation in this training is related to waste management in 29 markets in DIY after the temporary closure of the Piyungan Final Disposal Site (TPA) months ago. At least 9 tons of waste are generated every day from the entire market which has not been managed properly.

“There needs to be an effort downstream with education and upstream by sorting and selecting the waste that is disposed of,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., in his speech to the training participants, Friday (25/8). Prof. Budi also said that if people at the household level were disciplined in sorting waste based on its category (organic-inorganic) it would be enough to reduce waste problems.

The Faculty of Biology has held Organic Waste Management Training activities which are attended by at least 25 Hospitals, 17 Islamic Boarding Schools, and 30 Waste Management Communities in DIY. On this occasion, as many as 40 participants from the Trade and Industry Agency, especially the Market Sector Department, attended training in the framework of solving waste problems in DIY markets, especially market organic waste in the form of fruit and vegetable waste. The training took place guided by Soenarwan Hery Poerwanto, S.Si., M.Kes. and Suharjita.

Susilo, Operational Service Manager for the DIY Disperindag People’s Market who also attended the training said that there were at least 29 markets involved and planned to work with the Faculty of Biology in waste management. He stated that the waste collected in each market usually does not only come from traders but also from the surrounding community with the largest amount of waste found in Giwangan Market and Beringharjo Market. Efforts that can be made by the Market Management since the closing of the TPA include limiting the amount of waste that the community disposes of at the market. Susilo also revealed the lack of public education regarding waste sorting and processing.

Faculty of Biology is committed to solving organic waste problems in DIY. In managing waste from DIY markets, Faculty of Biology can collect at least 3 tons of waste every day from these markets and process it. With the waste management technology applied at the Faculty of Biology including vermicomposting and Black Soldier Fly, Eco Enzyme, Bioferlilizer, Eco Lindi and others, the waste degradation process can last at least one week.

The commitment of the Faculty of Biology in waste management which also targets the people and communities in DIY emphasizes their commitment as an environmentally friendly campus and supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Support for the SDGs includes increasing a healthier life (SDGs 3), having an impact on the availability of clean water in the environment (SDGs 6), and contributing to tackling climate change due to the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from organic waste piles (SDGs 13).

Yogakarta, 23 August 2023 – The Faculty of Biology received a visit from Dr. Josie South from University of Leeds, United Kingdom. The visit was welcomed at the KPTU Meeting Room of Faculty of Biology and was attended by Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc. as Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, M.Sc., Ph.D. and Nur Indah Septriani, M.Sc., Ph.D. from the Office of International Affairs, Faculty of Biology, Dr. Dwi Sendi Priyono, M.Si. from the Animal Systematics Laboratory, Dra. Tuty Arisuryanti, M.Sc., Ph.D. from the Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, and Zuliyati Rohmah, M.Si., Ph.D. from the Animal Development Structure Laboratory, Faculty of Biology.

During the visit, Dr. Eko as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs presented the profile of the Faculty of Biology, study programs, facilities, to the collaborations that have been forged by the Faculty of Biology both with domestic and foreign partners.

Dr. Josie South is an ecologist, especially aquatic ecology, invasion and fish conservation from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom. His research focuses on aquatic ecology and fisheries, invasive species, effects of climate change on fisheries and marine ecology, resource management, conservation, and food security. She expressed her interest in collaborating on research with researcher from Faculty of Biology, especially research related to aquatic ecology and fisheries in Indonesia.

The collaboration between the Faculty of Biology and the University of Leeds has been initiated in the scope of student exchange and double degrees. At this meeting, research collaboration was initiated, especially joint research and joint publications on the topic of aquatic ecology, especially fisheries through the Newtown Grant scheme. Newton Grant is a research funding scheme that collaborates between researchers from the United Kingdom and various countries, one of which is Indonesia. Previously, the Faculty of Biology had collaborated with other universities in the United Kingdom, namely the University of Warwick with the same research scheme.

The discussion is a step by the Faculty of Biology to improve the quality of education by collaborating with partners at the international level while building good relations, especially with the University of Leeds. This collaborative effort is the commitment of the Faculty of Biology UGM to support sustainable development and in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), namely good quality education (SDGs 4) and revitalization of global partnerships (SDGs 17).

On Monday, 21 August 2023, Faculty of Biology received a visit from the University of Groningen, Netherlands attended Drs. Tim Zwaagstra, M.A. as Senior Policy Advisor Southeast Asia and Japan and Mervin Bakker, M.Sc. as Director of International Strategy & Relations University of Groningen. The visit was received at the KPTU Meeting Room of the Faculty of Biology and was attended by Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc. as Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Slamet Widiyanto, S.Si., M.Sc. as Vice Dean for Asset Finance and HR, Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, M.Sc. as Vice Dean of Academic and Student Affairs Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D., as Head of the Undergraduate Study Program, Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, M.Sc., Ph.D. from the Office of International Affairs of the Faculty of Biology and Dr. Miftahul Ilmi, M.Si. from the Microbiology Laboratory.

During the visit, Dr. Eko as Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs presented the profile of the Faculty of Biology, study programs, facilities, and collaborations that have been forged by the Faculty of Biology both with domestic and overseas partners. On that occasion, Prof. Budi as the Dean of the Faculty of Biology also added about the collaboration established by the Faculty of Biology, with vital parties in Indonesia such as BUMN and the government, which hopes to reach and provide more benefits to the wider community.

The collaboration with the University of Groningen had previously been initiated by the Faculty of Biology regarding student exchange and at this meeting it was discussed again as a follow-up to the previous discussion. Tim and Mervin also appreciated the collaboration plans that will be implemented as well as the potential for further collaboration such as double degrees, joint publications, participation in the International Summer Course also student mobility. This collaboration is also potentially supported by a scholarship from the Indonesian government, namely the LPDP Program which is currently able to support double degree programs up to joint publication. There is also a need for further discussion, especially plans for specific programs such as double degrees which require curriculum alignment and so on.

The visit was a step by the Faculty of Biology to improve the quality of education by collaborating with partners at the international level as well as building good relations, especially with the University of Groningen. In addition, this collaboration is a commitment from the Faculty of Biology UGM to supporting sustainable development and is in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely quality education (SDGs 4) and partnership for the goals (SDGs 17).