IPB University Follows Up on Collaboration with University of British Columbia, Explores MoU with Simon Fraser University, Canada  

A delegation of IPB University consisting of Prof Deni Noviana (Vice Rector for Education and Student Affairs), Prof Dodik Ridho Nurrochmat (Dean of the Graduate School), and Prof Naresworo Nugroho (Dean of the Faculty of Forestry and Environment) visited the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada in order to follow up on educational and research cooperation (29-30/9).

The visit began with a meeting with the former Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), who is currently a professor at the Faculty of Forestry UBC, Dr Jeff Sayer and Dr Agni Intu Boedhihartono in West Vancouver. The meeting discussed plans for research cooperation and co-supervision of S2 and S3 programs at IPB University and UBC for the fields of forestry and the environment.

This was followed by a meeting with UBC Faculty of Forestry Vice Dean Dr Guangyu Wang, Director of Asian Strategic Collabpration Dr Suzy Zeng, and professors in genomics, forest management and nature conservation, and tropical forestry Dr Jacqui Sunderland and Dr Terry Sunderland.

In this meeting, the joint degree program plan for the forestry undergraduate program between IPB University and UBC (2 years at IPB University and 2 years at UBC), student exchange and co-supervision of S2 and S3 students, and joint publications were discussed.

The discussion also continued with a plan to prepare a cooperation proposal that will be submitted through the Education Fund Management Institution (LPDP) funding and other funding schemes.

In addition to discussing the follow-up of cooperation with UBC, the visit of the IPB University delegation in Vancouver was continued with the initiation of cooperation with Simon Fraser University (SFU). The event at SFU was hosted by Dr Colin Rankin, followed by a campus tour. The IPB University delegation discussed cooperation opportunities with Dr Tammara Soma from the School of Resource and Environmental Management SFU. Dr Tammara is a scientist from Bogor who has had a long career at SFU.

“The meeting discussed the plan to sign a memorandum of understanding between IPB University and SFU and cooperation in the field of education, namely student exchange and joint academic supervision for graduate students, as well as cooperation in research and scientific publications,” said Dean of the Graduate School of IPB University, Prof Dodik Ridho Nurrochmat.

In addition, Dr Tammara Soma will conduct a sabbatical program at IPB University next year with a research focus on food systems, which includes food loss and food waste. On September 30, the IPB University delegation, along with Dr Colin Rankin and Dr Laura Wilson from FINCAPES project Waterloo, also visited the Cheakamus Community Forest managed by the Squamish Indigenous community in Whistler, about 2.5 hours by road from Vancouver.

“In Whistler, we studied the partnership patterns of indigenous peoples in forest management, including fire control and efforts to increase carbon sequestration in forests managed by the community,” said Prof. Dodik. (*/Rz) (IAAS/MZS)