Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the University of Toronto (UofT) from Canada have agreed to collaborate on student exchange programs and research cooperation.
This was discussed in a meeting between the Vice Rector for Research and Postgraduate Education and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto, Professor Joshua Barker, with the Director of Partnerships and Global Relations at UGM, Professor Puji Astuti, on Friday (Jun. 7) at the UGM Central Office.
Professor Barker stated that the two universities forming a partnership and building a network is crucial for mutually beneficial developments in education and research.
He mentioned that the focus should be on promoting Ph.D.-level student exchange and research collaboration. Student mobility between UofT and Indonesia mainly occurs through the IISMA and SEED grants.
“We can benefit from Ph.D. student mobility by jointly supervising potential alternative engagement methods,” he said.
In addition to student exchange, Professor Barker also emphasized the importance of joint research projects. He has been conducting research in Indonesia since the early 2000s, focusing on crime, security, and technology in an urban context.
Director Puji Astuti welcomed the proposal for student exchange and Ph.D. research programs.
“UGM offers connections through IUP student mobility, summer courses, guest professor programs, and community service,” she said.
Director Astuti also invited Toronto students to engage in community service activities at UGM through the KKN-PPM student deployment program.
“International students can participate in this program,” she emphasized.
The Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni at the UGM Faculty of Geography, Dr. Dyah Rahmawati Hizbaron, shared a similar sentiment, proposing joint research cooperation in remote sensing and disaster management.
“This research is a primary focus for researchers and lecturers at the University of Toronto. We can build on our mutual interests and interconnections in the future,” she said.
Author: Gusti Grehenson