Enhancing the Collaboration, IPB University Visits the University of California

Rector of IPB University, Prof Arif Satria and his group of delegation visited the University of California (UC) Davis, at the end of February. Based on The QS World University Ranking by Subjects 2022: Agriculture and Forestry, UC Davis is ranked second in the world. Therefore, IPB University will enhance more intensive collaboration with the university, so that IPB University can play a more significant role at the global level.

Currently IPB University is ranked 41st based on the subject which is expected to increase in the future through international collaboration with reputable universities.

On this occasion, the Rector of IPB University was received by Prof Joanna Regulska, Vice Provost and Dean, Global Affairs and Prof Michael Lazzara, Associate Vice Provost, Academic Programs, Global Affairs at Mrak Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California.

The working visit began with a tour of the Coffee Research Center (CRC), that is a multidisciplinary study center with the aim to make a world class facility for coffee education and research in one.

Prof Bill Ristenpart, Director of CRC, presented "The Future of Coffee Science and Education". CRC combines various sciences that are integrated with courses in study programs such as Chemical Engineering, Sociology, Management.

"For example, the discipline of Chemical Engineering examines transport phenomena, thermodynamics and chemical reactions that occur in the coffee processing process which aims to produce the best coffee flavor with minimum energy. Biology, Ecology and Socio-Economics study the sustainability of the coffee cultivation system and its impact on society. Socio-cultural changes that affect coffee innovation, production and consumption are also studied," he explained.  Until now, he added, CRC has received support from various largest coffee companies in the world such as Starbucks, Bencafe, Cropster, Folgers and so on.

On this occasion, the Rector of IPB University said that Indonesia is the third largest coffee producer in the world, where production increases significantly every year. This is also in line with the increase in consumption at the national and international levels.  "Therefore, cooperation with CRC is very important and will be established more intensively to strengthen Indonesian coffee, especially from the aspects of education and research," he said.

Prof Arif hopes that the established collaboration can encourage international mobility students and mobility staffs to increase the capacity building of the IPB University academic community. Such as summer course programs, visiting professors, guest lecturers, internships / field work, which are reciprocal. In addition, research, community outreach and innovation need to be strengthened, for example in agriculture, one health, food sciences, biogenome, agricultural technology, human ecology, and other scientific fields.

"Another thing can be an exchange program for students and or faculty members to villages to transform farmers from traditional to modern. Given that the class of farmers in Indonesia is very diverse. UC Davis has experience in transforming traditional agriculture to smart farming/smart agriculture. Short academic internships will also be carried out to study commercialization, techno-socio entrepreneurship, start-up businesses, and business incubators so that they can encourage the growth of IPB University's Science Techno Park," he said.

In-depth discussions for more extensive collaboration were also held with Woutrina Smith, PhD, Associate Dean of School of Veterinary Medicine; Prof Christoper Simmons, Chair of Department of Food Science and Technology, Nicolette Caperello, PhD, Executive Manager, Earth BioGenome Project, Anneli Adams, PhD, Associate Dean of International and Access Programs, Continuing and Professional Education with Jake Hosier, PhD, Director of Access Programs, Continuing and Professional Education; Prof Fadi Fathallah, Chair of Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering with Prof Stavros G. Vougioukas; Prof Helene Dillard, Dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with Ermias Kebreab, Ph.D, Associate Dean of College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Prof Jonathan London and Anne Visser, PhD, Program Director, Community & Regional Development, Department of Human Ecology. (*/Zul) (IAAS/RUM)