Faculty of Agriculture Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) recently welcomed an international student for a research internship, underscoring its commitment to global academic cooperation. Cen Caihui, a PhD student from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Japan, is participating in a one-month research internship program at UGM’s Department of Agricultural Microbiology. This opportunity was made possible through a scholarship from the Japan Science and Technology Agency.
Caihui, affectionately known as Mia, chose UGM due to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TUAT and UGM, which facilitated the necessary permissions for her internship. Her program began with a series of field trips as part of the Summer Course on Sustainable Tropical Agriculture 2024 (SC-STA 2024), organized by Faculty of Agriculture UGM in August 2024. Following these activities, Mia engaged in molecular biology techniques such as PCR, qPCR, sequencing, and DNA transformation under the guidance of several faculty members in the Department of Agricultural Microbiology.
“I’ve gained a lot from this program, including hands-on experience with DNA transformation, meeting many local students, and enjoying Indonesian culture, such as attending a Javanese wedding in Jogjakarta. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the activities here and hope that my friends in Japan and China will also experience higher education in Indonesia,” Mia said, adding that she has developed a fondness for Indonesian dishes like nasi padang and soto ayam.
Agung Dian Kharisma, S.Pd.Si., M.Biotech., Ph.D., a faculty member and the program’s person in charge, expressed his hope that such programs will enhance international collaboration and provide local students with valuable opportunities to exchange ideas and experiences with their international peers.
“This program aims to boost international collaboration and share knowledge in the field of microbiology. We hope this experience will offer new insights to both the international student and our local students, thereby strengthening our academic network,” Dr. Agung stated.
This internship program reflects UGM’s commitment to becoming a globally oriented university and supporting international capacity development. The presence of international students is expected to foster positive synergy between UGM and foreign educational institutions, demonstrating the Faculty of Agriculture’s dedication to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Author: Desi Utami