The UGM Faculty of Forestry has agreed to collaborate in education, research, and community service with Partido State University—College of Environmental Science and Environmental Design, Philippines.
The two universities have agreed to collaborate in student exchange programs, exchange teaching and research staff, and conduct joint research and publication activities.
Dr. Arnel B. Zarcedo, President of SUC III, Partido State University, and Dr. Sigit Suarta, Dean of the UGM Faculty of Forestry, signed the agreement.
Dr. Michael A. Clores, Vice President for Academic Affairs at ParSU; Professor Patricia M. Candelaria, Vice President for Research, Extension, and Knowledge Management at ParSU; Professor Charlie M. Balagtas, Vice President for Administration and Finance at ParSU, and Leih Anne R. Odono, Board Secretary/International Affairs Director at ParSU, also attended the virtual signing of the agreement.
From UGM’s side, among others, the attendees were Professor Puji Astuti, UGM Director of Partnerships and Global Relations, Professor Widiyatno, Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, and Cooperation at the UGM Faculty of Forestry, and Dr. Dwiko Budi Permadi, Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at the UGM Faculty of Forestry.
In this agreement, both parties have also agreed to jointly organize seminar activities and academic meetings, lectures, and international seminar events, exchange academic materials and other information, and organize short-term special educational programs.
The planned student exchange program aims to provide students with opportunities for international collaboration and exchange and to help them better understand the Philippines and Indonesia through education.
“As for the study period for exchange students, it is stipulated that participants in this program will spend one semester or one academic year, but it can be extended with the agreement of both universities, and the number of students exchanged under this Agreement shall not exceed three students at each university,” said Professor Puji Astuti at UGM Campus on Friday (Apr. 19).
Both parties will actively seek to promote the exchange of facilities and researchers for a certain period. This exchange can take various forms, such as individual faculty visits, short-term and long-term exchanges, joint research, and development projects.
“Of course, both universities will also jointly seek external funding sources to facilitate this exchange,” Professor Astuti added.
Dean Sigit Suarta expressed gratitude for the signing of this collaboration. According to him, the two universities will benefit from the collaboration in several areas, including student exchange, staff mobility, joint research, and others.
“The benefit we will gain is that we will be used as a reference for developing tropical forestry knowledge for their new programs,” the dean explained.
This collaboration offers hope for the academic community of the UGM Faculty of Forestry in terms of opportunities to find collaboration partners for forestry knowledge development.
“Of course, this collaboration will also expand networks for global activities to save the earth from global warming,” he concluded.
Author: Agung Nugroho