FAHUT-PR: To develop the university's flagship collaborative research program and expand its global research network through Scientific Clusters, a joint research team comprising faculty members from the Faculty of Forestry, along with faculty and doctoral students from the Doctoral Program in Natural Resource and Environmental Management at the Graduate School of USU, conducted a series of activities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

These activities included participation from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), and UiTM Puncak Alam. The series of activities involved Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) to discuss research development topics, discussion and signing of Memorandums of Agreement (MoA), participation in an International Conference, Internal Staff Mobility, and a Scientific Article Writing Workshop. This joint research and scientific publication development effort aims to enhance USU's reputation in the global research arena and increase the number of faculty publications, particularly those based on international collaboration.

Funded by the Equity Program and Talent Research of USU, the activities commenced with a discussion on the collaboration program at the University of Malaya Alumni Association Building on Sunday, April 28, 2024. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ir. Secca Gandaseca, M.Sc., representing the host, warmly welcomed the USU team, which included Prof. Dr. Ir. Abdul Rauf, M.S., Prof. Rahmawaty, S.Hut., M.Si., Ph.D. (Graduate School USU), Prof. Dr. Ir. Agus Purwoko, S.Hut., M.Si., Dr. Ir. Pindi Patana, S.Hut., M.Sc., (Faculty of Forestry), Ridahati Rambey, S.Hut., M.Si., and Syawal Fitrah Harahap, S.P., M.P. (Doctoral Program PSL Graduate School USU). The first day was dedicated to discussing the cooperation program with the Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, UiTM Puncak Alam, led by Director Atta Ur-Rahman from the Institute for Natural Product Discovery, Assoc. Prof. CHM Dr. Fatimah Salim, B.Sc., Ph.D.

The activities continued the next day with presentations and participation in the 12th International Conference and Exhibition on Geospatial and Remote Sensing, organized by the Institution of Geospatial and Remote Sensing Malaysia. On the third day (Apr. 30), an FGD on Collaborative Research Cooperation and the Development Plan of the Scientific Cluster into a Center of Excellence in Science and Technology, “Human-Wildlife Co-Existence,” at the Faculty of Forestry USU, was held. The final activity was a Collaborative Scientific Article Writing Workshop between USU, UiTM, UPM, and UM. During these activities, an MoA was signed between the Faculty of Forestry and the Graduate School of USU, and the Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (IBSD) UiTM Shah Alam, strengthened by the exchange of mementos and the presentation of Batak Ulos to USU's collaborative partners. The entire series of activities on Tuesday (Apr. 30) was held at the Secretariat of the Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (IBSD) Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam. The third day’s events were opened by Prof. Dr. Yarina Ahmad, the Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainable Development Director, who warmly welcomed the USU team.

In addition to the director, the UiTM team included Assoc. Prof. Secca Gandaseca, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Aekbal Salleh, Dr. Muhammad Fuad Abdullah, Dr. Faezah Pardi, Prof. Ts Dr. Mohd Nazip Suratman, and Dr. Mohd Iqbal Mohd Noor. Universiti Malaya was represented by Dr. Peter Aning Tedong. The representative from UPM was Prof. Dr. Mohd Hasmadi Ismail, Ph.D.

The Scientific Article Writing Workshop resulted in at least 20 joint scientific publication manuscripts among universities, which will soon be published in various reputable international journals (indexed by Scopus Q3 to Q1). The joint scientific article writing aims to enhance the university's reputation globally and improve its ranking in the QS World University Rankings (QS WUR). The series of joint activities concluded with an agreement to make a reciprocal visit to Indonesia, particularly to the Universitas Sumatera Utara, to follow up on the research and implement other forms of cooperation (AP/RJ).

Author: Renny Julia - staf humas

Interviewee: Prof. Dr. Ir. Agus Purwoko, S.Hut., M.Si. - Wadek II Fahut USU

Photographer: istimewa - istimewa