YOGYAKARTA- Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) continually strives to develop strategic partnership with other foreign universities in supporting UGM towards World Class Research University (WCRU). At least, the seriousness is proven by the holding of Guest Lecture in Faculty of Geography on Tuesday (20/7). According to Dr. Muh. Aris Marfai, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Faculty, the event presented speakers Dr. Martin Coy, Dean of Faculty of Geographic and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, and Prof. Dr. Franck Lavigne from the Universite 'Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne.
"This is as a form or evidence that the Faculty of Geography is serious in developing synergistic cooperation with foreign universities," Aris said on Wednesday (21/7).
He added, in the Guest Lecture, which was attended by approximately 40 participants of lecturers, staff and S2 and S3 students of Faculty of Geography, Prof.Dr. Martin Coy gave a lecture on the theme of Man-Environment Relations, Socio Ecological Problems in Perspective of Sustainability with Example from Brazil. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Franck Lavigne raised the theme Geo-morphological Evolution of the Borobudur Basin.
"In the guest lecture there was also the screening of a short documentary film about the geological study of the Ancient Borobudur Lake. The film was made by S3 student of the Faculty of Geography, Helmy Murwanto," Tom added.
The theme raised by Prof.Dr. Martin Coy is related to the relationship between humans and the environment in their role in social and ecological fields with examples of cases in Brazil. Besides the Guest Lecture, Prof. Dr. Martin Coy also provided academic consultation and monitored the development of S3 students of Faculty of Geography who are studying at the University of Innsbruck Austria.
"During the visit, he also invited students of Faculty of Geography to study in the University of Innsbruck, Austria, under a scholarship," Aris said.
UGM’s cooperation with University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne and the University of Innsbruck has existed for more than 10 years and has produced graduates who continue their S2 and S3 programs there. It is expected that with this cooperation Faculty of Geography will be more developed in Academic Cooperation and student exchange in the future.