The partnerships between Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Japanese universities over the years have escalated favorable opportunities for UGM’s academic community to explore advanced learning environment through student and staff mobilities.
To expand international collaboration across a range of sectors, Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Jaka Widada, Ph.D; Deputy Dean for Academic and Student Affairs (Dr. Dyah Weny Respatie) and Faculty member (Prof. Aziz Purwantoro) along with Rector of UGM, Prof. Ova Emilia, and other faculty management leaders (Faculty of Animal Science, Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Dentistry and Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing) visited three universities in Japan, Ibaraki University, Waseda University and The University of Tokyo on 20-23 April 2024. The visitation was started by a meeting with Indonesian education and culture attaché in Tokyo, Prof. Amzul Rifin.
Visiting Ibaraki University
On 22 April 2024, the delegates visited Ibaraki University (IU) to continue partnerships through other programs. UGM and IU have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Academic and Student Exchange since March 2010 which automatically renewed every year.
The delegates were welcomed by President of IU, Prof. Hiroyuki Ohta; IU Vice Presidents; faculty management leaders (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Agriculture, School of Collaborative Regional Innovation, and College of Humanities and Social Sciences) and Research and Education Center for Atomic Sciences (RECAS).
In his welcome remark, Prof. Ohta explained that IU and UGM have been working together in several programs, including student exchanges from IU to UGM, student exchange from UGM to IU in Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) programs and lecturer mobility from IU to UGM. IU sent their lecturers to UGM to teach in Faculty of Agriculture in 2021 and to Graduate School in 2022 and became a keynote speaker in ASTECNOVA in 2023. While in the research sector, collaboration has been escalated through co-authorized publication and partnership in research grant proposals.
UGM rector, Prof. Ova highlighted university’s deepening and intensify the partnerships into several options, including offering international student community services (KKN) for two weeks, reciprocal student exchanges, joint research programs, summer courses, opportunity to teach at UGM for visiting professors, and joint/double degree programs at master and doctoral levels. “Those practical activities and events highlight the role of academic institutions in driving innovation and improving our contribution to society,” said Prof. Ova.
The meeting was then continued by a networking group discussion in three different clusters, humanities, agriculture, and science to explore more potential programs between IU and UGM. The delegations were then invited to visit Hitachi Seaside Park, a public park to see the flower fields in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Visiting Waseda University
On 24 April 2024, the dean and delegates visited Waseda University (Waseda). The topic of the meeting includes Universitas 21 (U21) partnership, as both UGM and Waseda are the members of the U21, a global network consisting of 29 world-leading universities which share a common understanding of collaboration and internationalization beliefs. The delegates were welcomed by Dean of International Affair Division, Waseda. The MoU between UGM and Waseda has been signed since 2017 and will be valid until 2026. To intensify the collaboration, UGM offers an International Student Community Service (KKN) for Waseda’s students to take part in an integrated activity between education and community services for two weeks.
“As initial collaboration between Faculty of Agriculture UGM and Waseda University, it can be started by student exchange programs” said Jaka.
Visiting The University of Tokyo
The delegation then moved to the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo. Both universities have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Academic Exchange which will be valid until 2026. The discussions prioritize student experience, researcher engagement, and educational innovation through student and staff exchanges, joint/double degree programs, and international student community services (KKN). The collaboration will be expanded to include other neighboring universities, such as Tohoku University, Shizuoka University, Miyazaki University, and Tsukuba University.
“Faculty of Agriculture UGM has been in collaboration with those universities, however reviving the collaboration to refresh what have been done is another importance of partnership, especially after covid pandemic”, said Jaka.
Meeting between Ibaraki University and Universitas Gadjah Mada
Dean of Faculty of Agriculture UGM along with Rector of UGM, President of Ibaraki University and other delegates
Faculty of Agriculture UGM delegates with President of Ibaraki University
Dean of Faculty of Agriculture UGM with Prof. Tatsuo Sato Director, Center for International Field Agriculture Research and Education, College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University
UGM delegates were welcomed in Waseda University
Dean of Faculty of Agriculture UGM give a souvenir to Dean of International Affair Division, Waseda.Universit
UGM delegates in front of Waseda University