Yogyakarta, February 1, 2025 – The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DTPB), Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), welcomed an academic visit from Prof. Latifah binti Abd Manaf, a lecturer from the Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). This visit was part of the implementation of a joint postdoctoral program aimed at strengthening international research collaboration between UGM and UPM through a joint supervision scheme.
The joint postdoctoral program is entitled “Smart Agroforestry Village: Integrating Local Knowledge and Digital Technology to Strengthen the Competitiveness of ProKlim Sambak Village, Magelang.” The program is designed to enhance cross-country academic cooperation, particularly in the development of science and technology in agricultural engineering, biosystems, and environmental fields, using an integrated and locally based research approach.
The postdoctoral program is carried out by Dr. Nur Amiera Kamarudin from the Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Faculty of Forestry and Environmental, Universiti Putra Malaysia. During its implementation at DTPB FTP UGM, the program is led by Prof. Dr. Ir. Lilik Sutiarso, M.Eng. as the Research Leader.
The research team involved in this joint postdoctoral program consists of Dr. Ngadisih, Dr. nat. techn. Rizki Maftukhah, Dr. Devi Yuni Susanti, Andri Prima Nugroho, Ph.D., and Yosefina Mangera, M.Sc. The team possesses strong expertise and a solid track record in multidisciplinary research, sustainable agricultural technology, intelligent biosystems, and systems-based management of agricultural and environmental resources.
Meanwhile, Prof. Latifah binti Abd Manaf serves as an International Partner in this joint postdoctoral program, particularly under the joint supervision scheme. Her role provides strategic contributions in strengthening global perspectives, enhancing research methodology quality, and expanding international academic networks.
Strengthening International Research Collaboration
The visit of Prof. Latifah binti Abd Manaf marked a strategic momentum for DTPB FTP UGM in expanding its international research network, especially with leading higher education institutions in Southeast Asia. Through this joint postdoctoral program, it is expected that intensive knowledge exchange, strengthened research capacity, and increased quality and quantity of internationally reputable scientific publications will be achieved.
DTPB FTP UGM holds strong competencies in sustainable agricultural technology development, intelligent biosystems, data modeling and processing, as well as systems approaches to agricultural and environmental resource management. These competencies form a strong foundation for developing the smart agroforestry village concept that is adaptive to climate change and supports sustainable development goals.
Expectations for the Joint Postdoctoral Program
Through this collaboration, DTPB FTP UGM expects that the joint postdoctoral program will not only produce academic outputs such as internationally reputable scientific publications, advanced research methodologies, and village-based innovation models, but also encourage the implementation of applied research relevant to global challenges in agriculture and environmental sectors. Furthermore, this collaboration is expected to strengthen the international reputation of DTPB FTP UGM as a world-class research university and open opportunities for future cooperation in education, research, and community engagement.
