YOGYAKARTA-UGM with Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, continue to strengthen and expand cooperation, particularly in research and study. This was marked by the visit of NAIST delegation Dr. Akira Isogai (President of NAIST), accompanied by Dr. Naotake Ogasawara (Director of the Center for Frontier Science), Mr. Tadashi Saito (Coordinator of Industry-Government-Academia Collaboratorion Group) and Ms. Sachiko Lida (Lida Foods Corporation).
The arrival of the delegation was received by the Rector of UGM, Prof Ir Sudjarwadi, M. Eng, Ph.D, Senior Vice Rector of Academic, Research and Community Service, Prof. Dr. Retno Sunarminingsih M.Sc Apt, Chairman of UGM Institute for Research and Community Service, Prof. Dr. Techn. Ir. Danang Parikesit, M. Sc, and Head of UGM Office of International Affairs, Dr. Rachmat Sriwijaya.
In his explanation, Dr. Akira said that their visit to UGM is to follow up cooperation that has been done with Faculty of Pharmacy since year 2005.
"Cooperation with UGM has been initiated since year 2005, particularly with Faculty of Pharmacy. NAIST has also worked in cooperation with University of Indonesia (UI) and Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB)," Akira said on Wednesday (15/9).
He added that besides UGM, NAIST has also worked with IPB and UI. NAIST has three faculties; Graduate School of Biological Science, Graduate School of Materials Science, and Graduate School of Information Science. The number of NAIST’s students up to today is 1039 people and it has 4883 graduates of S2 program and 955 graduates of S3 program.
"In the Asian region, there are 76 students, of which 15 are from Indonesia," he added.
NAIST’s achievement, Akira said, in regional and national levels especially in the field of research has so far occupied the top position than some other universities in Japan and Asia.
Responding to the NAIST’s visit, the Rector of UGM welcomed the possibility of expanding this cooperation. The expansion of cooperation can be conducted by other Faculties such as Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Engineering, Animal Sciences, Medicine, Agriculture, Agricultural Technology, Biology, and several programs in Graduate School.
"UGM welcomed the possibility of expanding relationships outside of Pharmacy, such as in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Agriculture, to the Agricultural Technology," Sudjarwadi said.
He added that with the possibility for UGM-NAIST cooperation, a person in charge (PIC) to manage the cooperation needs to be appointed. Later, students of UGM who have achievement and talent in the academic field can be guided by the faculty of UGM-NAIST so it is possible for them to continue their S2 program in NAIST.
"If our S1 graduates who have talent and good achievement are guided by UGM-NAIST lecturers, they are expected to get scholarship to continue their study there," he added