IPB Visit to Adelaide University, Deakin University and Monash University, Australia on Cooperation Reinforcement & Agro-Maritime 4.0 Agenda

Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) conducted series of visits to several strategic partners in Australia, namely Adelaide University (AU), Deakin University (DU) and Monash University (MU) on February 6th-7th, 2019. IPB Rector—Dr. Arif Satria and delegations (Dean of the Faculty of Economics—Dr. Nunung Nuryartono, Dean of the Vocational School—Dr. Arief Daryanto and Director of International Program—Prof. Iskandar Z Siregar) were received directly by the AU President of—Prof. Peter Rathjen. The gathering deliberated on master and doctoral double degree (DD) and interdisciplinary research collaboration. Since 2005, IPB became their only strategic partner in Indonesia. Partnership was initiated with joint research and gradually expanded to DD in Master of Economics funded by Australian Award Scholarship. DD grantees are affiliated with Ministry of Trade of Republic of Indonesia, Provincial Government of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam and Central Statistics Agency. DD program covers not solely economic field but also innovation and entrepreneurship areas where awardees come from Ministry of Industry of Republic of Indonesia. IPB-AU annual lecturers mobility provides trainings related to article writing, guest lectures and seminars. Likewise, AU students partake in summer course at IPB Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Faculty of Economics and Management. Collaboration research through ACIAR funding scheme has also been carried out between AU Centre for Global Food and Resources and IPB. The collaboration is expected to keep expanding by opening new DD programs (in economics and other fields) and interdisciplinary-derived research projects. The leading research themes currently observed jointly are “global food and resources” and “smart farming.” IPB representatives also had the opportunity to visit AU School of Food, Agriculture and Wine, Plant Genomics Center, Plant Phenomics and Plant Accelerator Facilities with their latest and sophisticated facilities to support frontiers research. Through these facilities, plant breeding research activities to produce new varieties can be accelerated to support sustainable agriculture.

Next, IPB delegations were welcomed by DU Vice Rector–Prof. Jane den Hollander, to discuss on fisheries, marine science, environment, disaster, economics, and business. The talks concentrated on early detection technology of forest and land fires or other disasters utilizing artificial intelligence and big data analytics, notably associated with DU Center for Energy, the Environment and Natural Disaster and case of Victoria state that is notorious in Australia for vulnerability to bushfires. IPB also proposed strategic cooperations in aquaculture and marine sciences field through landscape/coastal drone technology, underwater monitoring equipment using robots and seaweed cultivation technique. Agribusiness field was also brought up as DU has just launched agribusiness major (Bachelor of Commerce). Planning is to establish mobility for IPB students through summer school and internships in various exports-oriented agribusiness companies around Victoria state. Through New Colombo Plan program, Australian government encourages its students to undergo outbound mobility in Indo-Pacific countries, including Indonesia. IPB is among ACICIS (The Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies) members in hosting Australian students. Joint research proposal has as well been submitted through Australian fundings and IPB is expecting counter visit back from DU.

Lastly, IPB representatives presented the Agro-maritime 4.0 Agenda at Australia Indonesia Center (AIC) Boarding Forum, MU. This forum involved scientists, Indonesian academia at the MU, business practitioners and media. Dr. Arif emphasized the importance of preparing graduates to be adaptive to the dynamics of changes occurring related to future skill needs. These skills determines graduates’ readiness to participate in re-skilling and up-skilling process during their careers, as technopreneurs, socio-preneurs or other professions requiring qualification. During this occasion, IPB delegations met MU Vice President—Prof. Abid Khan and AIC Director—Dr. Eugene Sebastian, to discuss on second phase continuation of AIC consortium research collaboration. The collaboration is entering the research with impact phase (2019-2022) in which Indonesian 7 state universities and Australian 4 universities altogether join forces in research at learning sites outside Java island. This interdisciplinary research will answer the various current problems related to food, water, infrastructure, transport, logistics and health in the eastern part of Indonesia. This involves various parties, including universities, governments, private sectors, and communities. Furthermore, IPB Faculty of Economics and Management and MU Faculty of Economics and Business discussed further on DD in management and global business for undergraduate and graduate programs aside of other student mobility agendas. Besides, MU is currently preparing a new multidisciplinary master program in food and agribusiness field, linked with MU Food Innovation Center facilities.