Kyoto University satellite office launched at Bogor Agricultural University in Indonesia

[Video] the Kyoto University satellite office at IPB unveiled

Kyoto University’s Graduate Schools of Agriculture (GSA) and Global Environmental Studies (GSGES) jointly established a satellite office of the university at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) in Indonesia on 16 November, opening the door to further academic collaboration and exchange between the two institutions.

The new office, located at the IPB Faculty of Agriculture on its Darmaga campus, is available for both universities’ faculty and students to engage in joint activities, such as a double master’s degree program, collaborative research, and other international initiatives.

The launch was celebrated in the presence of Rector Herry Suhardiyanto, Faculty of Agriculture Dean Agus Purwito and other faculty members and strudents from IPB. A Kyoto University delegation of 12, led by Deans Shigeo Fujii and Hisashi Miyagawa of GSGES and GSA respectively, was in attendance at the ceremony.

As guests of honor, Yanmar Agricultural Research Institute at IPB Director Takeo Matsubara and Ehime University Associate Professor Makoto Kuramoto joined in the celebration, for the two have been actively engaged in cross-sector efforts involving Indonesia and Kyoto University.

“The three-year double degree program between IPB and GSA will certainly be the integral part of this joint venture,” said Dean Miyagawa in his opening remarks. “But we seek further — Indonesian and Japanese graduates of the program are to attain high proficiency in each other’s language, on top of English, so they can exercise multicultural leadership, whether in academia or industry.”

“Drs Supiandi Sabiham, Ernan Rustiadi, Bambang Saharjo among many others have long contributed to the academic cooperation, and have always inspired us all,” continued Dean Miyagawa, stressing that this milestone would not have been achieved without such decades-long collaborators, many of whom are Kyoto University alumni.

“Collaborations in the fields of crop and soil sciences, forestry, rural and regional planning, landscape architecture, horticulture, and bio-sensing engineering in particular have proven beneficial to both sides,” said Dean Miyagawa, in concluding that the two institutions should build on those achievements for further advancement to expand the frontiers of agricultural sciences.

Dean Fujii cited faculty cross appointment as a key to success in the GSGES-led project*, as part of which the new office was established. “This employment framework itself is still new to Kyoto University,” said Dean Fujii. “What we are trying to do here is a further step ahead, in that ours is an international contract. This new satellite office is what makes it possible and sustainable.”

Rector Herry unveiled the new office, and gave a facility tour to the Kyoto delegation.

Following the opening ceremony, both parties made the first use of the new office to negotiate agreements and arrangements necessary for the next course of collaborative actions.

In the afternoon, a study-at-KU information session was held, drawing about 350 IPB students mostly from the Faculties of Agriculture, Forestry, and Agricultural Technology.

A question and answer session in the form of panel discussion followed, which continued even after the scheduled conclusion of the program. A Facebook group page co-owned by IPB and GSA was presented to the audience, so they could ask questions without time restraints and network with those in the community.

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*”Project for the Creation of Trans-ASEAN Environmental and Social Innovator through Development of Overseas Satellites” funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) | Briefly mentioned also here

The IPB headquarters building on its Darmaga campus

A courtesy call to Rector Herry paid before the opening ceremony

Clockwise from left: Dean Agus, Rector Herry, Deans Miyagawa and Fujii

The hosts and guests after the courtesey call to Rector Herry

IPB Faculty of Agriculture

Dr Andrea Emma, a recent GSGES alum, chairing the opening ceremony

Dean Miyagawa delivering his opening remarks

The ceremony attendees

The Kyoto University satellite office established at the IPB Faculty of Agriculture

The interior of the office

The meeting room, where a video conference system will be installed

Auditorium Toyib Hadiwijaya, where the study-at-KU information session took place

IPB students entering the auditorium

Dr Naoshi Kondo, GSA International Committee Chair, outlining the session at the outset

Dean Miyagawa addressing IPB students to encourage them to study and train at Kyoto University

An IPB student asking questions during the panel discussion