Coastal Area and Watershed Management Planning Became International Master’s Double Degree Program

In implementing UGM’s vision to be World Class Research University (WCRU), Faculty of Geography encourages the development of graduate program in  Coastal Area and Watershed Management Planning to become international master’s double degree program.

This came after the Faculty received the delegation led by Prof. Nishio from Chiba University, Japan, from  5-7 March. They discussed the follow-up to the cooperation between UGM and Chiba University that has been initiated three years ago. “The Chiba’s delegation explored the possibility of sending Japanese students to study this particular program at UGM,” said Dean of Faculty of Geography, Prof. Dr. Suratman, M.Sc., to the press, Tuesday (9/3).

Previously, in 2009, three UGM students took the double degree at Chiba University and did research collaboration with their Japanese counterpart, using remote sensing of environmental, coastal area, and watershed analysis. Five more students are planned to take double degree program in 2010 and conduct research at Chiba,” he said. Suratman said that this would improve the quality of their research due to the more advanced facilities and equipment there.

Head of the double degree program in the Faculty, Dr. Muh. Aris Marfai, M.Sc., explained that the successful development of double degree and international program can not be separated from the support from the Foreign Cooperation and Planning Bureau in the Ministry of National Education through Superior Scholarship.“ In 2010, scholarships will be provided for outstanding students,” he said.

To meet international standards, English is used in courses, assignments and theses. Several subjects are collectively organized by foreign professors or lecturers from Giessen University Germany, Cologne University of Applied Sciences Germany and Chiba University.

This program is part of networking program between CNRD (Center for Natural Resources and Development) and 9 other universities in the world, such as University of Sao Paulo Brazil, Catholic University of Valparaiso Chile, Ain Shams University Egypt, Cologne University of Applied Science Germany, University of Jordan (Jordan), Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi Mexico, University Eduardo Mondlane Mozambique, and Vietnam Academy for Water Resources Vietnam.