The Faculty of Animal Science Universitas Gadjah Mada (Fapet UGM) keeps nurturing their commitment in advancing research quality, scientific publication, and international networking. This commitment is implemented through participation in the Program for Improving the Quality of Scientific Publications or Peningkatan Kualitas Publikasi Ilmiah (PKPI) and the Program for Improving Promoter Cooperation or Program Peningkatan Kerja Sama Promoter (PKP) within the Master’s to Doctorate Program for Excellent Undergraduates or Program Magister Menuju Doktor untuk Sarjana Unggul (PMDSU) scholarship scheme from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.
The program was joined by Dhomas Indiwara Prana Jhouhanggir, S.Pt., M.Sc., a doctoral program student Animal Science of Fapet UGM, along with the promoter, Prof. Ir. Ambar Pertiwiningrum, M.Si., Ph.D., IPU., ASEAN Eng. Both of them participated in academic activities at the School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, in collaboration with Prof. Constantina Kollia.
PKPI program was planned to last for six months, from December 2025 to June 2026, while PKP was held for two weeks, from 8th to 17th December 2025. Through the program, the doctoral students and the promoter were involved in a collaboration to prepare scientific articles on the theme of waste management, particularly the reuse of wastewater from the leather tanning industry for microalgae cultivation and the potential of microalgae in reducing pollutant levels in that waste. The result of the collaborative article was planned to be published to a reputable international journal in May 2026, before the students returned to Indonesia.
This collaboration also strengthens the academic relationship that had been previously established between Fapet UGM and NTUA through the ELEGTEC (Erasmus+) Project. The ELEGTEC Project aimed to build three Centers of Excellence for Sustainable and Eco-friendly Leather Technology in several universities in Indonesia, as an initiative to support the transition of the green leather industry.
During PKP, Prof. Ambar Pertiwiningrum conducted intensive discussion with Prof. Constantina Kollia and NTUA post-doctoral students, Dr. Maria Myrto Dardavila, which was conducted to discuss the research planning and further collaboration opportunities. During the discussion, Dr. Myrto also conveyed that NTUA is currently preparing a proposal for the Erasmus program, which has the potential to open up broader cooperation in the future.
This meeting was enthusiastically welcomed by both parties and is expected to mark the beginning of a sustainable collaboration, whether in the form of joint research, academic exchange, or the development of international proposals. On the same occasion, Prof. Ambar Pertiwiningrum also signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Fapet UGM and School of Chemical Engineering NTUA, which will be followed up further at university level. The Dean of the School of Chemical Engineering at NTUA, Prof. Glikeria Kakali, expressed appreciation for the collaboration and assessed that Fapet UGM is on the right track with Prof. Constantina Kollia as a strategic partner
The students also visited Lavrion Technological and Cultural park, a development center of innovation, technology, and culture, while also conducting revitalization post-industrial areas in Greece. The visitation gave a new perspective regarding integration between research, innovation and technology-based area development.
The participation of PKPI and PKP served as a strategy of Fapet UGM in advancing research quality, international publication, and global collaboration networking, particularly in the field of agro-industrial waste management and environmental sustainability. Such initiatives are expected not only to raise the academic capacity of the students and the lecturers, but also make tangible contributions to the development of science and sustainable solutions for industry in Indonesia.
Original article: https://fapet.ugm.ac.id/fapet-ugm-dorong-kemandirian-pangan-nasional-melalui-penelitian-kerbau-berbasis-kearifan-lokal/
Translated by: Merlin Fatika Ramadhani