After gaining international recognition by receiving 69 International Accreditation Certificates from ACQUIN, an association registered with EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education), the University of Bengkulu (Unib) continues to enhance its cooperation networks and international activities to realize its vision of becoming a leading and globally competitive university.
Dr. Yanen, Lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture, Unib, in front of the University of Oxford Gate and the Oxford Biology Department Building. (ist/yansen).
Recently, Unib has enhanced its international cooperation and activities with the University of Oxford, England. The activity involved sending a lecturer from the Forestry Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Unib, Dr. Yansen, to fulfill an invitation from the partner university to conduct a Visiting Researcher program at the University of Oxford from October 13 to 26, 2024.
This activity was successfully carried out thanks to the full support of the Rector, Dr. Retno Agustina Ekaputri and the support of the Office of Partnership and International Affairs (UPT KSLI) at Unib, led by Ade Sri Wahyuni, Ph.D.
Dr. Yansen with Prof. Simon Hiscock and Dr. Chris Thorogood, Director and Deputy Director of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum. (photo: ist/yansen).
To the Public Relations Team, Dr. Yansen explained that the collaboration between Unib and the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum in England was formally stipulated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2023. The MoU was signed by the Rector, Dr. Retno Agustina Eka Putri, and Prof. Simon Hiscock as the Director of the Botanic Garden and Arboretum, the University of Oxford.
This collaboration primarily covers research cooperation in the fields of biodiversity, plant conservation, and forestry. In addition, this collaboration is aimed at facilitating lecturer exchanges, internship programs, joint publications, and other academic activities.
Previously, this international collaboration began when Dr. Chris Thorogood, Deputy Director and Head of Science at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, initiated field observations of the Rafflesia flower in Bengkulu at the end of 2022. At that time, Dr. Chris Thorogood was also a visiting lecturer at the Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Unib.
“In early 2024, a joint project for field observations of Rafflesia in Bengkulu was carried out again, accompanied by international guest lecturer activities. We also agreed to increase joint activities under the signed MoU, and based on that, I was entrusted to carry out a visiting researcher program at the invitation of the University of Oxford,” said Dr. Yansen.
During this visiting program, Dr. Yansen had the opportunity to give a guest lecture at the Department of Biology, University of Oxford, participate in teaching activities (practical classes), and hold strategic meetings for long-term research collaboration with partners at the University of Oxford.
Dr. Yansen also carried out various activities at the Botanic Garden and Arboretum, ranging from managing the botanical garden and maintaining the collection to meeting with donors who provide support for the Botanic Garden’s activities.
In addition, Dr. Yansen also had the opportunity to participate in several scientific activities, such as panel debates and public lectures. Dr. Yansen then visited Kew Gardens in London, which has the largest herbarium collection in the world, and communicated with researchers there regarding Tropical Important Plant Areas.
Autumn Fair in Hardcourt Arboretum University of Oxford.(foto:ist/yansen)
During the activities at the university, Dr. Yansen added, two Implementation Arrangement (IA) documents were produced, between the University of Bengkulu and the University of Oxford, in this case, the Botanic Garden and Arboretum.
The two Implementation Arrangements include an IA related to a collaborative research project on the study of host-parasite relations of Rafflesia and an IA related to mobility and capacity building for upskilling staff from the University of Bengkulu.
Dr. Yansen visited the glasshouse at Oxford Botanic Garden, which contains a replica of Rafflesia surrounded by various tropical plants. (photo: ist/yansen)
Both parties agreed to continue collaborating. In addition, an international network and a collaborative project for the conservation of the rare Rafflesia sp. flower have been initiated. And with the support of the University of Oxford, an international cooperation network has been launched through the website: https://ccrr.web.ox.ac.uk.
“This international cooperation network is expected to strengthen efforts to conserve the Rafflesia flower, which is an icon of Bengkulu Province, and ongoing cooperation with the University of Oxford can encourage the realization of Unib’s vision of excellence and global competitiveness,” concluded Yansen. [Report: Yansen | Editor: Purna Herawan | Public Relations].