Belu – The Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (SPs UGM) reaffirmed its commitment to support the development of Indonesia’s border regions by fostering research collaboration and community engagement initiatives. This commitment was demonstrated with an official meeting of the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Cooperation of SPs UGM, Prof. Dr. Ir. Widyanto Dwi Nugroho, S.Hut., M.Agr., and the Regent of Belu, Willybrodus Lay, S.H., at the Belu Regent’s Office on Thursday (July 16th).
Prof. Widyanto, during the meeting, outlined the purpose of the visit and introduced SPs UGM’s mandated research and community engagement program, Cross-Border Partnership. The initiative is designed to strengthen collaboration among universities, local governments, and communities in unlocking the potential of border areas with applied research and community service programs addressing local needs.
Prof. Widyanto stated support from the local government is essential to the successful implementation of the program. He expressed hope that the Belu Regency Government would become a strategic partner in carrying out research and community engagement activities that generate tangible benefits for local communities while contributing to regional development.
“Through this collaboration, we hope that research outcomes will go beyond academic publications and be translated into practical solutions addressing development challenges in border regions while improving the well-being of local communities,” said Prof. Widyanto.
Belu Regency, bordering Timor-Leste, holds significant potential as a strategic location for the implementation of the Cross-Border Partnership program. The interdisciplinary approaches and collaboration with various stakeholders made SPs UGM seek to promote research-based innovations capable of addressing development challenges in border areas, ranging from strengthening community capacity to enhancing regional potential.
Prof. Widyanto was accompanied during the meeting by Ahmad Suparmin, S.P., M.Agr.Sc., Ph.D., Coordinator of the Research and Publication Unit at SPs UGM, along with several researchers from the UGM Graduate School. The visit served as an initial step to establish communication and explore opportunities for future collaboration in research and community engagement with the Belu Regency Government.
The meeting was held in a warm and collaborative atmosphere, reflecting the shared commitment of both institutions to advancing sustainable development in Indonesia’s border regions. SPs UGM hopes that the partnership will serve as a strong foundation for implementing impactful research and community engagement programs while reinforcing the role of higher education institutions in addressing regional development challenges.
Author: Sri Pangesti Tuhu