MALANG, Indonesia – Universitas Brawijaya (UB) hosted the 4th University Consortium Graduate Forum (UCGF) with the theme Sustainable Development of Tropical Resources: Issues, Challenges, and Recommendations. The forum was held back-to-back with UB's International Conference on Green Agro-Industry and Bioeconomy on 18 – 19 September 2018 at UB, Malang, Indonesia. More than 300 experts, academicians, practitioners, and students attended the conference, including 50 graduate students from the UC member universities. These students shared their research work and experiences during three parallel sessions: On-farm Production System; Off-farm Production System; and Production System Management and Regulation.
On the second day, the UC officials and students visited one of the Agro-technoparks of the University, with Prof. Dr. Sumeru Ashari, the Director of ATP, sharing its Vision-Mission to the participants. He mentioned that agro-technoparks aim to (1) provide education, research, and community service; (2) serve as training centers of the University and the community for agro-complex business; (3) be an educational-cum-tourist spot, campground, and family recreation center; and (4) promote organic farming.
During the closing program, five students from UC member universities received the Best Paper award in the following categories:
- Food microbiology, food safety and security & health, nutrition and medical (Ms. Anacorita O. Abasolo, UPLB)
- Fisheries, aquaculture and marine resources (Ms. Remilyn M. Mendoza, UPLB)
- Agricultural engineering & agroindustry (Ms. Gina D. Balleras, UPLB)
- Animal Husbandry and Welfare (Mr. Hamdani Maulana, UGM)
- Agro industrial production system management and regulation (Mr. Danang Kumara Hadi, UB)
The Graduate Forum is an annual activity of the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, or the UC, that started in 2015. The Forum aims to provide opportunity for graduate students from UC members to share new knowledge, research ideas, and experiences in an open platform as well as promote greater integration of research through strategic partnership between and among UC member universities. (Zacyl R. Jalotjot)
