Universitas Indonesia (UI) and Durham University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish more intensive educational cooperation and scientific research collaboration in various fields, especially related to climate change, on Tuesday (31/10) in Meeting Room A, Floor 2, University Administration Center Building, UI Depok Campus.
The meeting was opened by the Head of the UI International Office, drg. Baiduri Widanarko, M.K.K.K.K, Ph.D. by explaining information about UI as a Green Campus which has an area of 320 hectares with six lakes and an urban forest on campus. The speech was continued by Prof. Dr. Ir. Dedi Priadi, DEA as Vice Rector for Human Resources and Assets.
“Today, we will not only engage in meaningful discussions, but also take an important moment to begin signing the MoU, a document that will be the foundation for us to advance research, education, and cultural understanding. I hope this commitment is not limited to physical paper only. This is a step to invest in the future of our students, faculty and global community,” said Dedi.
The Durham University delegates were honored to discuss potential collaboration with UI. Durham University is one of the leading universities in the UK, consistently ranking in the top 10 in the country. Founded in 1832, Durham University is the third oldest university in England after Oxford and Cambridge University. Durham University has a number of multidisciplinary research institutes, one of which is the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience which focuses on disaster risks, including disasters due to climate change.
Director of Durham University’s International Office, Charlie Pybus, said, “We conducted several studies related to Indonesia, including how to deal with floods in Java especially in Jakarta, and about volcanoes. We see similarities in research priorities between the UK and Indonesia, namely related to climate change and global health, low-carbon-based sustainable development, education, and technological development.”
On the other hand, Dr. Dony Abdul Chalid, S.E., M.M. as the Deputy Director of the UI School of Environmental Sciences (SIL) said that UI, through SIL, also applies a multidisciplinary approach in responding to environmental issues involving lecturers and experts from various fields, including science, technology, social-humanities and health. Hearing this, Durham University, who has a superiority in the field of biosciences, is very interested in collaborating with SIL UI, one of which is by collaborating on research related to the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
Professor Claire O’Malley, Global Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Durham University welcomed the discussion and was enthusiastic about the potential for Durham University collaboration with UI. “This discussion is very interesting. There are a number of areas where we can deepen and expand cooperation, one of which is related to political science, law, and its relationship with climate justice. This is a very hot topic right now. It’s not just about how we understand the impacts of climate change in different parts of the world, but also how we develop international regulations and law in relation to climate change and energy transition in the context of social justice,” said Claire.
Furthermore, Durham University and UI plan to develop research collaboration on climate change modeling technology. Previously, Durham University geography researchers who are experts in remote sensing have also carried out a number of models related to climate change and predicted disasters from a modeling perspective. In this way, UI can also develop research capabilities in climate change modeling which can become the basis for climate change mitigation policies and actions in Indonesia.
Research using historical approaches to manage natural disasters, like using historical knowledge in flood mitigation is also attracting attention. The archeology and anthropology departments from UI and Durham University are interested in researching how to preserve cultural heritage in conditions of climate change. Not only are they interested in collaborating on research, the two educational institutions also plan to work together on student exchange programs.
The meeting and signing of the MoU was also attended by UI representatives including the Vice Dean for Education, Research and Student Affairs, FISIP UI, Nurul Isnaeni, Ph.D.; Director of the UI Disaster Risk Reduction Center, Prof. Dra. Fatma Lestari, M.Si., Ph.D.; Director of the UI Social and Cultural Research Center, Dr. Ari Prasetiyo, SS, M.Sc.; and International Cooperation Coordinator, FH UI, Iffah Karimah, SH, M.Sc. Another representative from Durham University was Regional Director Southeast Asia, Audrey Kon.