Yogyakarta – The Leadership and Policy Innovation Master’s and Doctoral Program (MDKIK) at the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) continues to strengthen its international network through research collaborations with foreign institutions. A concrete step in this effort was the visit of Prof. Kazuhiro Harada from Nagoya University to MDKIK, UGM. This visit follows a previous meeting held at Nagoya University in December 2024, aiming to enhance academic cooperation between the two institutions.
Prof. Kazuhiro Harada, a professor at the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Lab of Forest Resources and Society, is currently collaborating with the Chief of the Leadership and Policy Innovation Master’s Program, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Maryudi, on the publication of a book titled Community Forest Management for Sustainable Livelihoods: Cases from South & Southeast Asia. This book will be a significant contribution to the study of community-based forest management and involves researchers from various countries, including Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Portugal, and Australia.
In addition to the book publication, the meeting also discussed plans for a visiting professor program scheduled for September 2025, coinciding with Prof. Harada’s sabbatical leave. This program will include various academic activities, such as seminars, joint research, and the book launch, engaging the UGM academic community and other international partners. Besides MDKIK, this collaboration will also involve other faculties at UGM that have academic ties with Nagoya University.
The Chief of the Leadership and Policy Innovation Master’s Program, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Maryudi, welcomed this initiative and emphasized that international collaboration is a strategic step in strengthening UGM’s academic reputation on the global stage. “This collaboration will broaden academic perspectives and enhance research competitiveness, contributing to innovative policies across various fields,” he stated.
MDKIK with this partnership, will further establish itself as a leading center for research and policy innovation. The internationalization of higher education through such collaborations is expected to create greater opportunities for students and academics to engage in global research with tangible societal impacts.
Looking ahead, MDKIK remains committed to expanding its academic and research networks with various international institutions to drive policy innovation based on solid research. It is hoped that this collaboration will create broader benefits, both for the academic community and for sustainable policy development in Indonesia and beyond.
Writer: Vivie Silvania Intan Nirmala