The Agricultural Microbiology Department of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a curriculum update meeting on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The meeting, attended by all faculty members, aimed to align the curriculum with developments in science and industry needs. Some key points considered in the curriculum adjustments for the upcoming academic year include regulations set by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation Number 53 of 2023 and UGM Rector’s Regulation Number 23 of 2024 concerning the relaxation of the 2024 curriculum. read more

On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, the Department of Agricultural Microbiology held a graduation ceremony (judicium), with a total of five students graduating at the Microbiology Library, AGLC Building, 4th floor. These five students will attend the graduation ceremony in May 2024. Three students under the research guidance of Ir. Ngadiman, M.Si., Ph.D., are conducting research on the relationship between beneficial microorganisms and the growth of food crops and pathogen control. One student under the research guidance of Prof. Ir. Triwibowo Yuwono, Ph.D., is researching the formulation of osmotolerant rhizobacteria as biofertilizer, and one student under the research guidance of Prof. Ir. Irfan Dwidya Prijambada, M.Eng., Ph.D., is researching gold biooxidation by Chromobacterium violaceum. Three out of the five students successfully graduated with honors (Cumlaude) with a GPA above 3.70. read more

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

On March 25, 2024, agricultural microbiology students from the 2022 class participated in a series of industrial visits to PT Biotek Cipta Kreasi, located in Donoharjo, Sleman. PT Biotek Cipta Kreasi is a startup engaged in research and development of biotechnology to produce products that can enhance productivity in agriculture, fisheries, environmental, and food sectors. One of the products they produce is biofertilizers. This industrial visit was part of the agro-industrial microbiology practicum event in 2024. Mrs. Desi Utami, SP, M.Sc, Ph.D., the coordinator lecturer of the agro-industrial microbiology practicum, accompanied the industrial visit. The practicum assistant team also assisted the students during the visit. The purpose of the industrial visit was to provide an overview of biofertilizer industry development to the students. Additionally, this activity also motivated students to venture into entrepreneurship with the microbiological knowledge they have acquired. read more

SDGs 4: Quality Education | SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada’s main goal in international collaboration is to enhance academic reputation as a global player in higher education. On 27 March 2024, Dr. Kelly Redeker from Department of Biology, University of York, UK and his former student, Dr. Yumechris Amekan were welcomed by our Head of Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Ir. Donny Widianto, Ph.D., along with Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Dyah Weny Respatie, S.P., M.Si; and our Faculty member, Prof. Ir. Irfan D. Prijambada. The meeting aimed to discuss and explore potential collaborations between Department of Agricultural Microbiology and University of York, UK. read more

The Department of Agricultural Microbiology held a podcast, titled “Exploring the Agricultural Microbiology Department,” which was broadcasted on the social media program Sapa Faperta on Friday, March 8, 2024. The podcast aimed to introduce the Department of Agricultural Microbiology to prospective new students of the Agricultural Microbiology Study Program, who are predominantly high school students. The hosts of the podcast were Khalid Wirawan, a student from State High School 1 Teladan Yogyakarta, and Angie Ira, a student from SMF Indonesia Yogyakarta. The speakers included Ir. Donny Widianto, Ph.D., the Chairperson of the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Rizky Octavya, a student from the 2020 class of Agricultural Microbiology and former chairperson of PERMAHAMI, and Severinus Adrian, a new student from the 2023 class of Agricultural Microbiology. read more

On Sunday, March 3, 2024, the Microbiology Student Association (PERMAHAMI) held the Grand Launching of its new cabinet, named the Wangsaguna Cabinet. The Grand Launching of the Wangsaguna Cabinet was attended by several delegations from student associations of other study programs within the Faculty of Agriculture and the Student Executive Board (BEM KM) of the Faculty of Agriculture. The event took place at Rachmiwaty Building 12.1.1 from 08:00 to 10:00 AM local time. The word “Wangsaguna” itself originates from Sanskrit, consisting of two words, “Wangsa,” meaning Family, and “Guna,” meaning Beneficial. Therefore, the Wangsaguna Cabinet signifies a beneficial family, aiming for PERMAHAMI to become a home for agricultural microbiology students to actualize themselves according to their respective interests, benefiting not only the students but also society. The Grand Launching event also served as the inauguration ceremony for the new PERMAHAMI 2024 board members, inaugurated directly by the Chairperson of the previous period’s cabinet (the Nayakaharsa Cabinet), followed by the introduction of the new work programs of the Wangsaguna Cabinet, embracing the vision of making PERMAHAMI an organization based on family values and beneficial to its members. Various work programs aimed at achieving the Wangsaguna Cabinet’s goals include Study Learning Sessions with Micro (BBM), Microbiology Podcasts (Micropods), Micro Games, Social Sharing and Environmental Care, and many other exciting programs. read more

The Land of the Rising Sun, Japan, became the first international journey for Zikra Fathin Nabila. More affectionately known as Zikra, a Agricultural Microbiology student Class of 2021, had the opportunity to participate in a student exchange program at one of Japan’s universities, Ibaraki University, during the last semester of 2023/2024. The AIMS (ASEAN Internal Mobility for Students) program provided Zikra with the opportunity to experience studying abroad in a foreign land.

Countless stories marked the beginning of Zikra’s journey before she could finally qualify as a participant in the AIMS program. Feelings of self-doubt, unworthiness, fear of failure, and fluctuating motivation accompanied her first steps in applying for AIMS. Nevertheless, Zikra attempted to surpass all the challenges and limitations she set for herself. There is no harm in trying; the end result will become a story. Failure will become an experience. Success will become a new challenge that needs to be tackled. With determination and preparation, Zikra attempted to apply. Armed with her CV, TOEFL certificate, motivation letter, transcripts for 4 semesters, and several permission letters, she progressed to the first selection stage. It was beyond her imagination, but she passed and proceeded to the interview stage, eventually becoming an AIMS participant. read more

Three agricultural microbiology students from the 2021 class, Fathia Thaurika Rahma, Ani Fajar Dwi Sawitri, and Shinta Firdha Amalia, conducted Field Work (KL) at PT Industri Jamu dan Farmasi Sido Muncul Tbk from January 2nd to January 26th, 2024. The reason they chose PT Industri Jamu dan Farmasi Sido Muncul Tbk as their Field Work location is based on their interest and passion in the field of traditional medicine and pharmacy industry. Additionally, PT Industri Jamu dan Farmasi Sido Muncul Tbk is an internationally scaled company, so they believe that Sido Muncul can provide valuable knowledge and experience that they have not obtained before. read more

The student exchange program of the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, at Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Jinju, South Korea, is facilitated by the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) program. Representing the AIMS GNU Fall Semester 2023 exchange students are Sausan Syadzafie Shafar, commonly known as Sausan, along with another student from the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM. The student exchange period at GNU was spent amidst the transition from cool late summer to windy autumn and early bone-chilling winter. Experiencing a temperate climate is certainly not common in tropical climates like Indonesia, making this student exchange opportunity highly valuable. The different climate also brings about a diverse biodiversity found in South Korea, which is quite different from Indonesia, presenting an intriguing aspect for a student of the Faculty of Agriculture. Classroom and extracurricular activities provided excellent opportunities to understand the essence of student life and South Korean society. read more

Pradipta Guntur Putra, a 2019 Agricultural Microbiology student affectionately known as Dipta, has just completed his undergraduate research in Japan. This research was conducted at the Laboratory of Food, Life, and Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture (農学部), Yamagata University (山形大学), under the guidance of Prof. Toru Watanabe, Ph.D. His research titled “The Analysis of Functional Genes and Microbial Community Relevant to CH4 and N2O emission in Dent Corn Fields” was successfully completed and presented at the Joint Seminar, Eco-Science Course, Yamagata University, on August 7, 2023. read more