Postgraduate School of IPB University Working Visit at Kolej FELCRA and Universiti Putra Malaysia to Discuss Education Collaboration

The Postgraduate School (SPs) of IPB University conducted a working visit to two higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia, namely Kolej FELCRA and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The purpose of this visit was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kolej FELCRA and finalize the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) document with UPM.

Present during the visit were Prof Iskandar Z Siregar, Vice Rector of IPB University for Global Connectivity, Cooperation and Alumni, Prof Dodik Ridho Nurrochmat Dean of SPs IPB University, Prof Agus Buono, Vice Dean of SPs for Resources, Cooperation and Development and Prof Anuraga Jayanegara, Director of Strategic Studies and Academic Reputation.

"The first day visit at Kolej FELCRA agreed on several points, namely related to educational cooperation such as student exchanges and further studies of Kolej FELCRA lecturers, then related to the organization of scientific activities and joint publications. It is also related to research and the use of joint research data between Kolej FELCRA and IPB University," said Prof Iskandar.

Furthermore, Prof Dodik Ridho Nurrochmat on the second day at UPM explained that in general there are three terminologies in educational cooperation programs, namely mutual recognition, joint program/twinning program/dual program degree, and double degree. Mutual recognition cooperation is a kind of credit earning, where students can participate in activities at partner universities and get recognition in their studies.

The joint program/twinning program/dual program degree is cooperation through a joint degree between two study programs (prodi) that are the same or similar. In this case, each university issues a diploma for its graduates with the same major. If the diploma will be used for promotion, then only one of them can be used.

"For the double degree program, a study program in one university cooperates with a different study program in another university. Thus, the two diplomas obtained by graduates can be used for promotion purposes, because each major is different," he explained.

The MoA contained a dual degree program and also a double degree for all postgraduate programs, both those at IPB University and those at UPM. The document then still requires further processing from UPM. During this visit, SPs IPB University also had the opportunity to visit the oil palm plantation and Research and Development (R&D) at Kolej FELCRA as well as the Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Hospital at UPM. (HBL/Rz) (IAAS/ARD)