IPB University Establishes Global Collaboration with Universities in Madagascar, Strengthening Blue Ekonomy
IPB University collaborates with the University of Toliara in Madagascar and Padjadjaran University (Unpad) to develop education, research, and community empowerment. The signing of the collaboration documents took place at the 5th Ministerial Meeting in Bali, Indonesia (10/10).
The event was organized by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemenkomarvest), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), facilitated by the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum. The agenda of the 5th Ministerial Meeting was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and attended by Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, ministerial representatives from 22 island countries, the Rector of IPB University, and the Rector of Unpad.
The AIS Forum itself is a multilateral dialogue platform consisting of 51 island countries. This forum has four thematic areas of work: climate change, blue economy, pollution and marine litter, and good maritime governance.
Prof Arif Satria stated, “The collaboration between IPB University, Unpad, Institute of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, University of Toliara and AIS Forum has been implemented in enhancing the capacities of fishermen in Anakao Island, Madagascar.”
He mentioned that the fishermen there were trained to create fish aggregating devices (rumpon) and deploy them in the sea from August 21-24, last 2023. This event was part of the series of the 8th Senior Official Meeting (SOM) held in Madagascar (29/8).
In addition to the Rector, the IPB University delegation at the collaboration document signing event included Prof Luky Adrianto, a professor in the Department of Fisheries Resources Management (MSP), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK), and Dr Roza Yusfiandayani, The Deputy Chairperson of Farmer and Fishermen Center.
Dr Roza, as a rumpon trainer for fishermen communities in Madagascar, stated that IPB University’s role was also strengthened through collaboration in postgraduate education, particularly through a master’s scholarship program in the field of small islands studies.
“This scholarship program is awarded to 10 students from 10 member countries of the AIS Forum. This international class education program is conducted in the Master’s Program of Coastal and Marine Resources Management (SPL) at the Department of Fisheries Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, IPB University, for two years, from 2023 to 2025,” stated a lecturer from IPB University’s Department of Fisheries Resource Utilization.
Furthermore, he added that IPB University also contributes to the development of the Blue Economic Development Index (BEDI) prototype as a tracking tool for implementing the blue economy in AIS member countries. (*/Rz) (IAAS/ZRT)
