The Master’s Program in Food Science and Technology (MFST), Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FAT UGM), continues to strengthen its commitment to supporting internationalization of higher education and academic quality enhancement through a strategic partnership with Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand. As part of the implementation of the double degree and student mobility programs, a team of MFST lecturers conducted academic activities and institutional coordination at PSU from October 13-17, 2025.
The delegation consisted of Dr. Muhammad Nur Cahyanto, M.Sc. (Head of the MFST Study Program), Dr. Widiastuti Setyaningsih, S.T.P., M.Sc. (Secretary of the MFST Study Program and supervisor of undergraduate students from the Food and Agricultural Product Technology program), and Dr. Fiametta Ayu Purwandari, S.T.P., M.Sc. (supervisor of the MFST double degree students). They were involved in conducting academic examinations, student evaluations, and institutional coordination between FAT UGM and PSU.
During the visit, the team carried out several key academic agendas, including the proposal defense for undergraduate students of Food and Agricultural Product Technology (BFAPT) participating in the student mobility program and the thesis defense for MFST double degree students. These activities aimed to ensure that the academic evaluation processes were aligned with FAT UGM’s quality standards and to support the harmonization of learning quality across partner universities.
In addition to academic activities, the team held institutional meetings and discussions on research collaborations with representatives from PSU. The discussions focused on curriculum alignment, synchronization of academic calendars, quality assurance mechanisms, and the development of a joint research collaboration roadmap in food science and technology. The forum also explored opportunities for joint supervision, co-publications, and future international academic initiatives.
This activity plays a strategic role in strengthening FAT UGM’s position as a regional reference center for
higher education in food science within ASEAN and forms an integral part of the university’s efforts to realize its vision of internationalization and academic excellence through global collaboration. Through this program, students gain academic experience aligned with international standards, lecturers are able to harmonize teaching and supervision methods with overseas partners, and the institution benefits from strengthened capacity and international reputation.
Beyond its contribution to academic quality improvement, this activity also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through enhanced cross-university learning and supervision processes, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through collaborative research in food science and technology, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through the development of sustainable international collaboration networks.
The outcomes of this visit include documentation of academic examinations, minutes of institutional meetings, and a follow-up plan for research and educational collaboration between FTP UGM and PSU. Through these initiatives, the Master’s Program in Food Science and Technology reaffirms its commitment to developing an adaptive, collaborative, and globally competitive academic ecosystem as a tangible contribution to advancing the quality of higher education in Indonesia.
