Suiji, PT Indonesia-Japan, has meeting in Bogor
Three universities of Indonesia (IPB, Gajah Mada University and University of Hasanuddin) and three of Japan (Kochi University, Kagawa University and Ehime University) held a meeting in Bogor in the seminar "The 2nd SUIJI International” at IPB International Convention Center (IICC), Tuesday (4/7), Bogor.
The meeting of six universities of Indonesia – Japan was attended by about 100 participants consisting of Rectors, university staff and lecturers. The event was officially opened by Rector of Bogor Agricultural University, Prof.Dr.Ir. Herry Suhardiyanto, MSc.
The meeting lasted for three days starting from 2 to 4 July at IPB International Convention Center (IICC) and discussed an agenda of cooperation in education and agriculture. IPB Rector in his speech cited an issue that is currently of the world’s attention, that is, at present the international community is faced by the global problem of climate change, which therefore requires global solution. The issue of climate change is closely related to agriculture, in which the environment is an indicator of agriculture. "This meeting is expected to generate ideas that can contribute to dealing with the problems of climate change," said Rector.
Discussing Sustainable Agriculture
"The SUIJI meeting is very important; in this meeting the orientation of SUIJI is to a sustainable tropical agriculture with the focus not merely on food but also renewable energy and drugs," said Rector of Gadjah Mada University, Prof. Pratikno, acting as Chairman of SUIJI, when met after the opening of the 2nd SUIJI International Seminar, at IPB International Convention Center, Bogor.
According to Praktikno, SUIJI cooperation has a strategic role in optimizing the abundant natural wealth for food security, energy and medicine. SUIJI creates education that generates graduates who are capable of contributing expertise supported by technology through a multidisciplinary approach.
"SUIJI takes the role of ensuring how technology can be utilized by the community, government and industry so that upstream and downstream are similar. SUIJI also wants to develop its contribution not only to the academics but also to the wider community by utilizing the existing natural resources," he said.
Director of Cooperation and International Programs IPB, Dr.Ir. Rinekso Soekmaji explains that SUIJI is a collaboration of six universities from Indonesia and Japan in the field of tropical agriculture. The university cooperation of the two countries began in 2007, which at that time had only four members – two from Indonesia (IPB and UGM) and two from Japan (Ehime University, Kochi University).
According to him, this seminar is a routine agenda of SUIJI cooperation. It focuses on the development of sustainable agriculture in the tropics. It has conducted a number of work programs such as international Field Work Experience (KKN), in which the students work for three months in Japan and vice versa.
"The International Field Work has been underway since 201, and the number of students who are sent there is still few – two to three students. They will do the field work for three months there," he said.
Another program implemented by SUIJI is the research collaboration by lecturers and students that has been going on continuously since 2010 and 2011. (Mtd)
