These are the figures of two female professors of IPB University who received the Japanese Ambassador’s Award
The Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia, YM Masaki Yasushi, decided to give the Overseas Chief Representative Award for the 6th Reiwa Year (Second Half) to two female figures of IPB University Professors, Prof Tineke Mandang and Prof Hanny Wijaya.
The award was presented because of their service in strengthening the friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and Indonesia over the years.
As alumni of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) scholarship recipients, Prof Tineke and Prof Hanny have been among the key deciding members in the selection process of scholarship recipients in science and agriculture for many years since 1990.
Prof Tineke is the Vice of the Alumni Association from Japan (PERSADA). She has contributed in promoting the Japanese alumni association. At the Japan Education Fair organized by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) for many years, Prof Tineke has also been a resource person by sharing her experiences for Indonesian students who want to continue their studies in Japan.
“Of course there is pride in being chosen as one of the awardees. We have only wanted to play a role in the Japanese government scholarship program so that the program can continue so that more and more Indonesians can get an education in one of the developed countries, especially in agriculture,” she said.
She also said that with the award, there is a sense of responsibility to maintain and improve friendship and cooperation, especially in the fields of education and agriculture.
“At the institutional level, we have also been the administrators/managers of IPB University-Japan cooperation,” she continued. One of them is the cooperation between Higher Education / IPB – JICA Japan for grants for the construction of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology Building (Fateta), facilities, expert assignments, and international training for 12 African countries. Also cooperation between Higher Education/IPB – JSPS for research cooperation with various universities in Japan.
“The involvement in these collaborations is based on the trust of Prof Kamaruddin Abdullah and Prof Edi Guhardja (alm). For him, thank you,” said Prof Tineke.
Meanwhile, Prof Hanny has also contributed to promoting cooperation in education between the Japanese and Indonesian governments including by building relationships between the Japanese Embassy and the Indonesian government.
As Chair of the Hokkaido University Alumni Association in Indonesia, Prof Hanny also played a role in promoting exchanges between universities when IPB University invited the Rector of Hokkaido University as a guest speaker.
“I really did not expect this. What I do for the alma mater where I studied is a form of sincere gratitude. I feel it is appropriate to give back, because I had the opportunity to study in Japan with a full scholarship from the Japanese government. Thanks to that opportunity, I can take part as I am today,” she said.
Prof Hanny hopes that what she has done can be useful for Indonesia, especially IPB University which provides her with trust, the educational basis of symbiotic mutual cooperation values, and which provides many opportunities to be able to work wholeheartedly.
“Proud is certain, but I know for sure all these achievements are not my ability alone, so many hands are stretched out. I am very grateful to all parties, especially the ‘senpai’, the mentors, especially Prof Kamaruddin Abdullah and the late Prof Edi Guharja. May this award be a blessing for IPB University and its academic community. Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu,” she concluded. (IAAS/LAN)
