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).

Friday, August 18^th 2023, Associate Professor from Antioch College, Ohio, United States, Assoc. Prof. Richard Kraince conducted a discussion on initiating research collaboration with the Faculty of Biology via online. The discussion was attended by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc, Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, M.Sc., Ph.D., and Nur Indah Septriani, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. from the Office of International Affairs of the Faculty of Biology and Mukhlish Jamal Musa Holle, S.Si., M.Env.Sc., D.Phil. from the Ecology Laboratory of the Faculty of Biology.

Assoc. Prof. Richard is an Associate Professor of Cooperative and International Education from Antioch College, Ohio, United States of America. His research is mostly related to religious movements, environmental conservation campaigns and progressive international education networks, as well as many studies that focus on Southeast Asia and Africa. In a discussion with Faculty of Biology UGM, he expressed his desire to collaborate in an Ecology Education Research project in the Southeast Asian Region and work with Malaysia (Department of Science Studies, Universiti Malaya) and Philippines (Atendeo de Manila University Institute of Sustainability). Apart from that, Richard also explained about Antioch College and his last visit to Indonesia and his collaborative project with LIPI (now BRIN).

Dr. Eko then made a presentation regarding the profile of the Faculty of Biology UGM, study programs and potential collaborations. Dr. Eko really opens up opportunities for collaboration with Faculty of Biology. On this occasion, an expert lecturer from the Ecology Laboratory, Mukhlish Jamal Musa Holle, S.Sc., M.Env.Sc., D.Phil. who can collaborate in the ASEAN Ecological Education Research Project.

The discussion was a great bridge to increase the collaboration network of the Faculty of Biology. Richard also hopes to establish good research collaborations and looks forward to his planned visit to Faculty of Biology next year. In addition, this collaboration is a commitment from the Faculty of Biology in supporting sustainable development and in accordance with the sustainable development goals (SDGs), namely quality education (SDGs 4) and partnerships for the goals (SDGs 17).

As a follow-up to the collaboration initiation last June, Universitas Gadjah Mada through their Office of International Affairs held a collaborative discussion with the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, Friday, August 10^th 2023. The discussion was attended by 15 participants from Universitas Gadjah Mada and the University of Warwick. The discussion was attended by representatives from the Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Psychology, Faculty of Engineering, and the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada. From the Faculty of Biology attended by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Affairs, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, M.App.Sc. From the University of Warwick attended by Vicky Strudwick as International Partnership Manager for East and South East Asia, and Dr. Irwanda Laory and Dr. Yudhi Ariadi from the School of Engineering, University of Warwick.

The discussion began with introductions and collaborations that had been discussed or planned with the University of Warwick. Dr. Eko conveyed that the collaboration between the Faculty of Biology and the University of Warwick had been going on for a long time through collaborative research conducted by expert lecturers from the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, MS, M.Sc. and Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri, M.Si with Prof. Jose Gutierrez Marcos from the School of Life Science University of Warwick. Furthermore, the Graduate School UGM delivered an introduction regarding the Disaster Management program and Biotechnology Study Program. Collaboration in the form of Joint Supervision, General Lecture and Research is highly expected with the University of Warwick. From the Faculty of Psychology conveyed the initiation of potential collaboration and their closest agenda, namely an international conference while from the Faculty of Engineering explained the potential for double degree collaboration following the research collaboration they had previously carried out.

Vicky as the International Partnership Manager of the University of Warwick appreciated the collaboration initiatives that were discussed. She said that collaboration could be carried out in the scope of research related to health to sustainable development and potential for Doctoral Joint Supervision collaboration up to a double degree.

Dr. Irwanda added that collaboration must be supported by scholarships such as the LPDP which is supported by the government at both the doctoral and master levels. The potential for double degree collaboration 2+2 and 3+1 is very likely to be discussed again. Even so, there are still many limitations from the LPDP which can limit collaboration and there needs to be special communication with scholarship providers for the best mechanism, especially in the double degree program.

This discussion is a great bridge to increase the collaborative network of Universitas Gadjah Mada, especially the Faculty of Biology with the University of Warwick after the research collaboration that had taken place previously. In addition, this collaboration is a commitment from the Faculty of Biology UGM in supporting sustainable development and in line with the sustainable development goals (SDGs); quality education (SDGs 4) and partnership for the goals (SDGs 17).