EduAsiaNews, Malang – The Faculty of Bioindustry, Agriculture, and Forestry (FBiPK) at Universitas Brawijaya (UB) strengthened its international engagement through its participation in the 2026 France–Indonesia Joint Working Group, aimed at reinforcing and advancing the international partnerships previously established between FBiPK UB and Institut Agro, France. The five-day program, held from July 1–5, 2026, saw FBiPK represent Universitas Brawijaya at a cooperation forum jointly organized by the French Ministry of Higher Education and Indonesia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
The FBiPK delegation was led by Dean Prof. Mangku Purnomo, Ph.D., accompanied by Vice Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. Afifuddin Latif Adiredjo.
The program commenced on July 2, 2026, with a visit to the University of Angers, one of France’s leading institutions in agricultural education and research. The visit served as a preliminary agenda prior to the signing and formalization of several cooperation agreements on July 3, 2026. Throughout the program, the FBiPK delegation also held meetings and explored collaborative opportunities with several other prestigious institutions, including Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, ESA Paris, and AgroParisTech.
The University of Angers was selected as a strategic partner based on its strong global reputation in agriculture and forestry. The collaboration aligns closely with FBiPK’s research priorities, particularly in genomics and ecology. The partnership is expected to generate innovations such as the development of under-canopy rice cultivation technology and the discovery of new superior crop varieties. In addition, Institut Agro Angers is a member of the CIRAD research consortium, which focuses on strategic commodities such as coffee, cocoa, and other tropical agricultural sectors.
The principal outcome of the 2026 Joint Working Group was an agreement to expand the implementation of cooperation between FBiPK Universitas Brawijaya and Institut Agro Angers. The agreement encompasses student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, and the development of broader academic collaboration in the future.
This partnership represents a follow-up to Indonesia’s educational diplomacy efforts, which have included a series of bilateral engagements with the French Government. With this support, FBiPK expects the implementation of various international programs to accelerate the internationalization of higher education, enhance research quality, and strengthen Universitas Brawijaya’s global academic network.
Dean of FBiPK, Prof. Mangku Purnomo, emphasized that partnerships with world-class educational institutions constitute a strategic step toward improving the quality of education and research within the faculty.
“This collaboration is part of FBiPK’s ongoing efforts to expand its international network while enhancing the quality of education, research, and innovation. We hope that by collaborating with leading universities around the world, FBiPK will continue to learn, grow, and realize its vision of becoming an internationally recognized institution. As the saying goes, when we surround ourselves with outstanding people, we become better ourselves. Likewise, by partnering with the world’s leading universities, we aspire for FBiPK to grow into a globally distinguished institution of higher education,” said Prof. Mangku Purnomo.
Through the signing of this cooperation agreement during the 2026 France–Indonesia Joint Working Group, FBiPK reaffirmed its commitment to fostering impactful international partnerships that contribute to the advancement of higher education, research, and innovation on a global scale.
Source: UB Public Relations
