As a commitment in internationalization development, Faculty of Agriculture UGM has various cooperation agreements with overseas universities, including Yonsei University, South Korea. Through the cooperation agreement between the two parties, Faculty of Agriculture UGM accepts Andriamanantena Ramasasiarisoa Vonihanitriniaina Diamondra Zoharilala, a PhD student from Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, South Korea, in a joint research program.
Voni, her nickname, is involved in research on gas emissions in the river. She worked on a project, entitled “Effect of Antrhropological Activites on Carbon Dioxide and Methane Emissions in Tropical Headwater Streams”. During her research at Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Voni was supervised by Prof. Dr. rer. Nat. Junun Sartohadi, M.Sc., a Professor at the Department of Soil UGM, who is also the Head of the Centre for Agroecology and Land Resources Studies UGM.
According to Voni, Prof. Junun warmly welcomed her arrival and helped in all research processes, guided her to solve the problems and challenges, while provided the logistics and materials to conduct the research.
“Upon my arrival at UGM, I was warmly welcomed by Prof. Junun. He always made sure we got very good logistical support. If there are challenges that I have in the research process, Prof. Junun is always proactive to provide suggestions and solutions,” said Voni.
One of the students who was involved in research and assisted Voni while at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM was Idsa Bela Islami as a project manager, a student of Master of Biotechnology Study Program UGM. She explained that Voni’s involvement in the research project indirectly also supports Voni’s own PhD research.
“While at the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Voni was involved in our research project related to gas emissions in rivers, where we chose several river locations, including agricultural rivers in Bantul and rivers produced by human activities in Sleman. This project also helps Voni’s research for her own studies in the doctoral program,” she explained, who is often called Bela.
Bela added that Prof. Junun is a very suitable supervisor for Voni, considering that gas emission research is also related to land use which is Prof. Junun’s scientific field.
The Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Dr. Dyah Weny Respatie, S.P., M.Si., stated that the research program of PhD students from Yonsei University at Faculty of Agriculture UGM can prove that the laboratory facilities and research ecosystem in Faculty of Agriculture UGM are adequate to facilitate research for foreign students.
“This student exchange with Yonsei University is a follow-up to the cooperation agreement that was signed in 2022. Her arrival to conduct research in our faculty is proof that the Faculty of Agriculture UGM is able to facilitate research for foreign students. Not only that, this collaboration can also add international exposure experience for our students in Faculty of Agriculture UGM,” Dr. Weny explained.
Dr. Weny hopes that collaboration will continue to increase the exchanges between the two universites. This also shows the real commitment of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM in achieving the goals of SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Author: Hanita Athasari Zain
Editor: Desi Utami