Report by Ismail Cahya Putra dan Arif Maulana
[Unpad Media Channel] The Rector of Universitas Padjadjaran, Prof. Rina Indiastuti, received a visit from the Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia, H.E. Mr. Masaki Yasushi. Prof. Rina officially welcomed the Ambassador to Unpad in her office at the rectorate building in Unpad’s Jatinangor campus on Tuesday (5/15/2024).
In the meeting, she was accompanied by the Deans of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Iman Rahayu, M.Si., Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. Ir. Meddy Rachmadi, M.P., and Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Prof. Aquarini Priyatna, Ph.D.
The Rector expressed her gratitude of Japan’s long history of collaboration with Unpad to Mr. Masaki. Said collaboration have manifested in many ways, including awarding grants for research and providing facilities for learning.
One of the ways in which the collaboration between the Japanese government and Unpad have manifested is through the construction of the Japanese Language Learning Center (PSBJ) building in 1988. Historically, during the leadership of Unpad’s 7th Rector, the late Prof. Yuyun Wirasasmita, such assistance was granted by the Japanese government through JICA.
More recently, Unpad, through the Faculty of Agriculture (Faperta), succeeded in being granted funding by the Japanese government through the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS). The grant was to fund a research collaboration between Unpad Faperta and University of Tsukuba in designing and disseminating a new cultivar of tomatoes which are resistant to heat, as well as chilies resistant to cankers.
Furthermore, Prof. Rina brought up the collaborations carried out through student exchange programs. Last year, a number of students from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science (FPIK) started their internships in the fishing industry located in the town of Yakumo, Hokkaido.
“We also hope we can send some [more students] on internships in [other] activities,” said the Rector.
In the talk, Mr. Masaki expressed how Unpad has had a long history in the development of Japanese language education in Indonesia. For example, the Japanese Studies program in Unpad has stood since 1963. “This is the oldest [Japanese studies program] in Indonesia,” said Mr. Masaki.
He added that there are many Unpad graduates who continued their study in Japan. The results of their study and research have contributed in the development of the relationship between Indonesia and Japan.
“In our universities, there are many local staffs who studied here in your university. So, we are very happy to visit this campus,” explained Mr. Masaki.
After the meeting, the Ambassador visited Faperta’s Bale Tatanen complex. There, he was given a look into the workings of a SATREPS project aiming to innovate chili pepper and tomato breeding to accelerate its production in tropical climates in a sustainable way. The project itself is a collaboration between Unpad Faperta and University of Tsukuba.
Aside from visiting Bale Tatanen, the Ambassador was also invited to visit several facilities in the PSBJ building in the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. Afterwards, he delivered a talk on the diplomatic partnership between Japan and Indonesia. (ICP)*
