The Faculty of Biology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again achieved international recognition by expanding its network and recognition through collaboration with Leiden University in the Netherlands, one of the world’s top universities.
This collaboration was marked by the signing of a Joint Doctoral Degree Agreement between the UGM Faculty of Biology and the Graduate School, Faculty of Science, Leiden University.
The signing event, which took place on Wednesday (Sep. 25) at the Gorlaeus Building, Faculty of Science, Leiden University, symbolized both institutions’ commitment to strengthening academic and research relations in biology.
The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Professor Jasper Knoester, officially signed the agreement. Professor Knoester was accompanied by several representatives from UGM, including Professor Mirwan Ushada, Director of Research at UGM, and Luthfi Nurhidayat, a lecturer at UGM Faculty of Biology who is also pursuing his Ph.D. at the Institute of Biology, Leiden University.
The agreement was also approved and signed by the Dean of the UGM Faculty of Biology, Professor Budi Setiadi Daryono, during the 69th Dies Natalis of the UGM Faculty of Biology and by the UGM Rector, Professor Ova Emilia.
Professor Knoester expressed his hope that this signing would facilitate enhanced cooperation between Leiden University and UGM, particularly within the scope of both faculties.
Professor Knoester was optimistic that this collaboration would soon yield concrete results through an increase in the number of Ph.D. students participating in the program.
“I hope that the signing of this MoA will strengthen the cooperation between UGM and Leiden, especially between the two faculties, and that it will soon be followed up with the involvement of doctoral (Ph.D.) students,” he said.
Similarly, Professor Mirwan Ushada stated that, in addition to the joint doctoral degree opening for doctoral students, research cooperation in the fields of biotechnology and health was also agreed upon.
“One of the priority themes of INUCoST (Indonesia Dutch Consortium on Sustainable Future) next year is health. This aligns with UGM’s vision to develop leading research in biotechnology and public health,” said Professor Ushada.
According to him, the collaboration between the two universities in establishing the Zebrafish Research Facility is expected to become an international research center supporting the development of health research and the testing of natural products from Indonesia.
“Hopefully, with the existing cooperation through the Twinlab fish facility, it can be further strengthened by having Ph.D. students conduct research using the facility to support health research and the testing of Indonesian natural products,” he added.
Several key figures from Leiden University attended the signing event, including Dr. Pieter Schipper, Head of Academic Affairs Science, Professor Herman Spaink, an adjunct professor at UGM Faculty of Biology, and Professor Paul Kessler from Hortus Botanicus Leiden University, one of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the world.
Professor Budi Daryono, in his statement to reporters on Friday (Sep. 27), said that the collaboration between UGM and Leiden University is expected to encourage more students and researchers from both universities to actively participate in these collaborative programs, whether in the form of student exchanges, joint research programs, or high-quality scientific publications.
“This collaboration is a strategic step taken by the UGM Faculty of Biology to expand the impact of research and innovation at the international level while also strengthening its role as a center of excellence in biological research in Indonesia,” concluded Professor Daryono.
Author: Lintang
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif