IPB University and NUS Singapore Agree to Expand Education and Research Collaboration
IPB University and National University Singapore (NUS) agreed to strengthen education and research partnerships. This collaboration was carried out as part of the Human Capital Partnership Arrangement between the Singapore Ministry of Education and the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology which was signed in early 2023.
Through complementary strengths, IPB University Rector, Prof Arif Satria proposed to expand joint activities between IPB University and NUS. By utilising the existing collaborative research consortium, INTPREP (INtegrated Tropical Peatlands REsearch Programme), the expansion of cooperation in education, research and community service can be done immediately.
"IPB University and NUS plan to share best practices in higher education transformation according to their respective characteristics. Topics focussed include lifelong learning, online learning, research funding systems, science and technology area management, and others," said Rector.
Furthermore, the Rector of IPB University proposed a joint academic programme that would facilitate exchange programmes for students and lecturers from both universities. "These programmes can be in the form of experiential learning, summer courses, service learning, and double degree programmes in various fields such as Food and Agricultural Sciences, Forestry and Environmental Sciences, Marine Sciences, Business, Economics, and Social and Management Sciences," he explained. Not only that, he also mentioned that cooperation could also be developed in the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at IPB University through the One Health approach supported by the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedicine, the Faculty of Human Ecology, and the Faculty of Forestry and Environment, complementing the strengths in this proposal.
Innovation and entrepreneurship will also be the main focus. "IPB University and NUS have similarities in encouraging a culture of innovation among students and lecturers where cooperation can be carried out through strengthening the innovation and commercialisation ecosystem, startup incubators, and innovation competitions. In this case IPB Science Techno Park and NUS Enterprise are institutions that will contribute to this effort," added Rector.
Both university leaders recognised the importance of transformation, strengthening resilience and ensuring sustainability in the face of rapid global change. (IAAS/RUM)
