Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Collaborates with IPB University, Discusses Marine Conservation from Ecological Perspective, Spatial Data and Governance
As a series of implementation of cooperation (MoU) between IPB University and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), three UMT academics/scholars visited the Department of Aquatic Resources Management (MSP) IPB University. This is the umpteenth time for INOS UMT Malaysia academics to IPB University.
At the MSP Department, this academic visit began with a courtesy visit to the Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science (FPIK). Then followed by organizing a Webinar “Marine Conservation from the Perspective of Ecology, Spatial Data, and Governance”.
The webinar was hosted by Prof Luky Adrianto (Chief of the International Maritime, Marine, and Fisheries Research Institute / i-MAR), keynote speech by Prof Fredinan Yulianda (Dean of FPIK), and welcome note by Prof Hefni Effendi (Chairman of the MSP Department).
The webinar was held in a hybrid format, located in the Ichsan Effendie Discussion Room. The activity was attended by all master and doctoral students of the Coastal and Marine Resource Management Study Program (Prodi) as many as 35 people and a number of general participants via Zoom (152 participants).
The topic presented was “INOS Coral Reef Research – Past, Present & Future”, delivered by Mohd Safuan Bin Che Din, PhD (INOS UMT Malaysia). In this presentation, Dr. Safuan explained in detail about a number of coral reef research conducted by INOS in Malaysian marine waters.
Next, a presentation by Gs Nurul Hidayah Mat Zaki, MSc on “Database: Advancing Marine Data Integration in Malaysia”. As a Database Manager at INOS, Nurul talked about how INOS collects and processes data on the dynamics of oceanographic characteristics and biotic data.
The data is integrated into a unified and spatially mapped data system. Data collection is carried out through marine stations and research vessels.
Furthermore, Husni Alhan Md Salimun, MSc as a Malaysian government official who is studying S3 at INOS UMT explained the topic of Marine Spatial Planning Potential in Connecting Ocean Governance Dots – Malaysian Perspective. Husni told a lot about the development of marine spatial planning in Malaysia.
From the presentation of these three scholars, a lot of knowledge was gained by the webinar participants about how Malaysia interprets marine research and marine spatial planning.
On the following day, the three INOS scholars were invited to become observers in several courses in the SPL postgraduate program, including the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Services and Valuation course, and the Coastal and Marine Ecotourism Management course.
In addition, accompanied by Sdri Intan Rabiyanti, MSi (MSP young lecturer), guests were also taken around the IPB Dramaga campus while being explained some of the facilities owned by IPB University.
Chairman of the MSP Department of IPB University, Prof Hefni Effendi said, the highlight of this academic visit at the MSP Department was a discussion about joint conferences, joint summer schools, joint research, student and lecturer exchange, along with exploring research funding.
“Another important thing is the common understanding that collaboration is now a necessity. An advanced institution is an institution that is good at building networks both nationally, regionally, and internationally,” he said. (IAAS/RUM)
