Henra, a student in the Fast-Track Master’s to Doctoral program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has successfully completed his master’s degree in an impressive duration, 1 year and 15 days only. This achievement was made possible through his research titled “Antifungal and Antibiofilm Activity of Bacillus velezensis BP1 Against Candida albicans: In Vitro Bioassay, Metabolomics, and In Silico Molecular Docking,” under the supervision of Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D.

Henra completed his master’s studies in the Biotechnology Study Program and is now continuing his doctoral program in the Doctoral Program in Agricultural Sciences, with a specialization in Agricultural Microbiology at the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM (Faperta UGM). He participated in UGM’s Fast-Track program, which allows outstanding students to complete both their master’s and doctoral degrees in just four years. With dedication and hard work, Henra not only finished his master’s degree in record time but also maintained an excellent academic performance, graduating with a GPA of 3.87 out of 4.00.

Explaining his motivation for joining the Fast-Track program, Henra stated that he saw it as an opportunity to complete both his master’s and Ph.D. in less than four years. He also shared his ambition of becoming a researcher at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), which requires a doctoral qualification. According to Henra, the guidance and support from his professors, especially his thesis advisors, played a crucial role in his decision to pursue the Fast-Track program.

However, he emphasized that completing a Fast-Track program requires a strong time management and endurance. “You must be ready for exhaustion because managing time effectively is crucial when pursuing two academic degrees simultaneously,” he shared. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining physical and mental health, stating that despite good time management, one’s well-being is essential for achieving optimal results. Additionally, Henra advised future Fast-Track students to believe in themselves, as self-confidence and resilience are key to success in the program.

Henra’s achievement received high praise from Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D., the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, who acknowledged his accomplishment during the postgraduate graduation ceremony. “It is proudly announced at the university level that Henra, a master’s student who graduated in just 1 year and 15 days, is now continuing his Ph.D. studies through the Fast-Track program at the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM. Our faculty is committed to supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs), including providing quality education, reducing inequalities, and improving family welfare through broader and easier access to education,” Dean said.

Henra’s success is a testament to UGM’s commitment to accelerating academic progress while maintaining excellence. His achievement aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Author: Agrit Kirana Bunda

Editor: Desi Utami

Documentation: Media Faperta

Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo, a target group for community service by the Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program (Prodi PKP) of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), successfully won second place in The Asia-Pacific Local Leaders Forum for Disaster Resilience (APLL4DR) 2024 in Manila, Philippines, on October 14, 2024. The efforts of Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo, represented by Yustina Wardani, were supported by the Prodi PKP community service team, coordinated by Mesalia Kriska, S.P., M.Sc., mainly through the creation of a profile video showcasing the activities of the group. This video was prepared by Abdurahman Agosto, S.T., and Ishadiyanto Salim, S.Pd., M.Pd., as supporting material for the presentation.
The community service activities at Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo, located in Sidoluhur Village, Godean District, Sleman, Yogyakarta Special Region, took place from September to October 2024. Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo is a self-help group (SHG) that facilitates social rehabilitation and recovery, aiming to assist People with Psychosocial Disabilities (ODDP) in the village to become independent and productive.

“Our discussions with Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo revealed their desire to develop agricultural land called Taksi Kencana (Inclusive Education and Disaster Preparedness Garden) as a central activity hub for rehabilitating ODDP members of the group. Additionally, they had previously been trained in eco-pounding practices and expressed interest in learning ecoprint as an alternative business opportunity alongside their existing ginger syrup and tie-dye batik production,” explained Mesa regarding the study program’s community service initiatives.
Mesa added that the members of Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo also wished to use the plants from Taksi Kencana as materials for ecoprint production. To support this, Prodi PKP provided additional plant seedlings. The training sessions were held on September 9, 10, and 12, 2024, attended by 15 participants, including paguyuban members, caregivers, and members of the local Women’s Farmer Group (KWT). The ecoprint training was conducted by Hastin Solikhah, S.Sn., a Cultural Village Facilitator. Additionally, Prodi PKP organized a plant cultivation training for ecoprint, led by Rani Agustina Wulandari, S.P., M.P., Ph.D., a lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Cultivation, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM. The ecoprint products made by the members were later presented at the APLL4DR forum.
Dr. Dyah Woro Untari, S.P., M.P., Head of the PKP Study Program, stated that Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo’s achievement has garnered regional attention and could serve as a reference for similar initiatives at the national level for other self-help groups. Moreover, this program is expected to empower the Paguyuban Luhur Jiwo community, promote economic independence, and enhance their capacity to manage agriculture-based businesses sustainably.
The assistance provided by Prodi PKP aligns with the commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Authors: Happy Nastasya Salsabilla, Azizah Nur Rohmah, Nafeny Nirmalasiwi, Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Hanita Athasari Zain
Photo: Documentation of Prodi PKP

The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), organized a guest lecture titled “Effective Role of Microorganisms in Waste Management and Environmental Sustainability.” held on 14 March 2025. The event was held in a hybrid format, with an offline session at the AGLC Building, Faperta UGM, and an online session via Zoom and YouTube streaming. The keynote speaker was Prof. Fujiyama Kazuhito from Osaka University, Japan, a well-known expert in environmental microbiology. The event was opened by Prof. Ir. Irfan Dwidya Prijambada, M.Eng., Ph.D., a professor from the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, UGM.

In his opening session, Prof. Fujiyama Kazuhito introduced Osaka University as one of the world’s leading universities actively engaged in international collaboration, including with UGM. He also presented his main lecture on innovative research regarding lipid production by Rhodotorula strains using bio-waste. His research involves isolating thermotolerant mutants, identifying genes contributing to thermotolerance, and utilizing bio-waste to produce lipids with potential applications in various environmentally friendly industries.

The event concluded with an interactive discussion session that received enthusiastic responses from both lecturers and students. Many questions were raised regarding the presented topics, both directly at the venue and through Zoom. The discussion reflected the participants’ high interest in microorganism-based waste management and environmental sustainability.

This guest lecture is part of Faperta UGM’s ongoing efforts to support scientific and technological advancements in microbiology to address global challenges in waste management and environmental conservation.

“I am very interested in tropical agricultural waste, and if I can collaborate, I would really appreciate any chance and opportunity with UGM,” said Prof. Fujiyama Kazuhito, emphasizing the potential for collaboration between Osaka University and UGM, particularly in the field of tropical agricultural waste management.

Through this event, Faperta UGM reaffirms its commitment as an educational institution that fosters international collaboration and innovative research for a more sustainable environment. Additionally, this activity demonstrates Faperta UGM’s contribution to the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

Writer: Rani Nur Rochim, Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami