Dhomas Indiwara Prana Jhouhanggir, a doctoral student in Animal Science at the Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Animal Science UGM), had the opportunity to participate in academic activities at the School of Chemical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. In collaboration with Professor Constantina Kollia, his academic visit to Greece also involved his doctoral supervisor at Animal Science UGM, Professor Ambar Pertiwiningrum.
The academic activities at the School of Chemical Engineering, NTUA, formed part of the Animal Science UGM’s commitment to enhancing research quality, scientific publications, and international networking.
This commitment was realized through participation in the Scientific Publication Quality Improvement Program (Program Peningkatan Kualitas Publikasi Ilmiah/PKPI) and the Supervisor Collaboration Enhancement Program (Program Peningkatan Kerja Sama Promotor/PKP) under the PMDSU Scholarship Scheme (Master’s to Doctoral Program for Outstanding Undergraduate Students) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.
The PKPI program is scheduled to run for six months, from December 2025 to June 2026, while the PKP program was conducted over two weeks, from Dec. 8 to 17, 2025.
Through these programs, the student and supervisors collaborated to prepare a scientific article on waste management, focusing on the reuse of wastewater from the leather tanning industry for microalgae cultivation and the potential of microalgae to reduce pollutant levels in this waste.
“The collaborative article is targeted for submission to a reputable international journal in May 2026, before my return to Indonesia,” Jhouhanggir said on Tuesday (Jan. 13).
According to her, the collaboration also strengthens the existing academic relationship between Animal Science UGM and NTUA through the ELEGTEC (Erasmus+) project.
The ELEGTEC project aims to establish three Centers of Excellence for Sustainable and Eco-friendly Leather Technology at several universities in Indonesia, as part of efforts to support the green transition of the leather industry.
During the implementation of the PKP program, Professor Pertiwiningrum held intensive discussions with Professor Kollia and NTUA postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Maria Myrto Dardavila, regarding research plans and opportunities for further collaboration.
On this occasion, Dr. Dardavila also noted that NTUA is currently preparing an Erasmus program proposal, which could open broader avenues for future cooperation.
Jhouhanggir noted that the activities were enthusiastically received by both institutions and are expected to develop into sustained collaboration, including joint research, academic exchanges, and international proposal development.
On the same occasion, Professor Pertiwiningrum also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Animal Science UGM and the School of Chemical Engineering NTUA, which will subsequently be followed up at the university level.
“The Dean of the School of Chemical Engineering NTUA, Professor Glikeria Kakali, expressed her appreciation for this collaboration and considered the UGM Faculty of Animal Science to be on the right track with Professor Constantina Kollia as a strategic partner,” he explained.
In addition to academic activities, the PKPI and PKP programs also included visits to industrial sites and innovation centers in Greece.
One such visit was to Oil One, a company engaged in the collection and management of petroleum waste, with its main facilities located in Drapetsona, near the Port of Piraeus.
The visit was particularly insightful, providing firsthand exposure to oil waste management practices and to the implementation of sustainable environmental services at the industrial level.
“During this visit, participants were introduced to various laboratory facilities at the School of Chemical Engineering NTUA that support research and innovation activities,” Jhouhanggir said.
The student also had the opportunity to visit the Lavrion Technological and Cultural Park, an area that serves as a hub for innovation, technology, and culture, while also revitalizing a former industrial zone in Greece.
This visit offered additional perspectives on integrating research, innovation, and technology-based regional development.
For Jhouhanggir, participation in the PKPI and PKP programs forms part of the Animal Science UGM’s strategy to enhance research quality, international publications, and global collaborative networks, particularly in the fields of agro-industrial waste management and environmental sustainability.
“It is hoped that this activity will not only enhance the academic capacity of students and lecturers, but also make a tangible contribution to the advancement of science and the development of sustainable solutions for industries in Indonesia,” she concluded.
Reporter: Animal Science UGM/Satria
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya