IPB University Fahutan Students Join Summer Camp 2023 at University Putra Malaysia SISFEC Education Forest, Selangor
Four IPB University students from the Faculty of Forestry and Environment (Fahutan) had the opportunity to participate in a series of International Summer Camp activities in the Ayer Hitam Save Forest of Sultan Idris Shah Forestry Education Center (SISFEC), University Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Selangor State, Malaysia.
In that activity, UPM invited six Indonesian universities, including IPB University. The four students of Fahutan IPB University were Rizka Ramadhanti (Forest Management), Muhammad Haikal (Forest Products), Alaysa Yahya (Conservation of Forest and Ecotourism) and Yurico Bakhri (Silviculture).
Chairman of the Department of Forest Management of IPB University, Dr Soni Trison who accompanied the student team said that this activity was in order to improve institutional performance in the development of international networks. The activity which lasted for 14 days provided a comprehensive learning experience for IPB University students. One of the main focuses is the development of independence in facing natural challenges.
“Students are taught how to survive, find water sources and make temporary shelters. In addition, participants also learned about the importance of wise forest management, with a focus on tree mensuration (measuring trees through various parameters) and forest analysis. This supports the 15th Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) on the sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems,” he said.
Safety and first aid aspects are also a focus in this program. Students are trained to recognize potential hazards in the forest, cope with emergency situations and provide first aid in cases of injury. These skills equip them with abilities that can be applied not only in the outdoors, but also in everyday life.
“In an effort to improve navigation skills and understanding of topography, students also engage in geocaching activities. Through this activity, they learn how to read compasses and maps to find hidden coordinates,” he added.
In addition, said Dr Soni, this activity also reflects the spirit of international cooperation. In this context, the Summer Camp program also supports the 17th SDGs, namely building global partnerships for sustainable development goals. Through the exchange of knowledge and experience between universities, Indonesian and UPM students together encourage concrete actions in supporting the vision of global sustainability.
Muhammad Haikal, one of the participants from the Department of Forest Products Fahutan IPB University said, “The participation of students, especially Indonesian students in this Summer Camp activity is an important step in preparing young foresters who care about the environment and also support the 4th SDGs on quality education. They not only gain practical knowledge, but also valuable experience in applying it in the field.” (IAAS/SHY)
