UNS – The second session of BIANKA (Bincang Karya – Creation Discussion) is held by the Attaché in Education and Culture for the United States of America (Atdikbud USA), Wednesday (15/7/2020). Bringing up the theme of Marine Mega Biodiversity, the event presenting experts who currently live in the USA or Indonesia. The event was held through Zoom Clouds Meeting and live streaming in Atdikbud USA channel, led by Prof. Popy Rufaidah as the Attache for Education and Culture, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Washington DC, USA.
The Chairman of the Council of Rector of Indonesian State University (CRISU), who also serves as the Rector of the Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, also present during the session as discussion booster along with Rionald Silaban, SH, LLM, the Director of Educational Fund Management Institution (LPDP) Indonesia. Silaban mentions that currently there are 337 scholarship recipients, both awardees and alumni who study marine and biodiversity fields, all across the world. In detail, there are 76 students in the maritime study program and 14 of them are studying in the US.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Edhy Prabowo, SE, MM, MBA., is starting the discussion by delivering a remark on “Marine Mega Biodiversity: Strategic Action”. During the occasion, he explains the condition of Indonesia’s marine and fisheries, which have a rich diversity of marine life. However, this diversity faces various threats that have the potential to cause damage or even extinction. Several attempts were made by the government to manage Indonesia’s marine biodiversity. There are four important components supporting to achieve maximum results in preserving marine life, namely quality Human Resources (HR), integrated data and information system, appropriate and supporting institution and regulation, and lastly funding. Following his presentation, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries raised a question regarding the maritime and fishery study program in Indonesia, which until now is not maximum. While, in fact, the field practice program can be maximized by universities by providing facilities and proper teaching for the students who take the program.
“Many universities have a fisheries study program but do not have a vessel to use for fishing learning. How could we hand over our sea to people who do not understand about the ocean,” Dr. Edhy Prabowo, SE, MM, MBA., questioned.
Prof. Jamal as the Chairman of CRISU responding to this positively. Improvement and development of various study programs are needed, among others in the maritime and fisheries study program, thus students are not only good in theory but also can implement it directly.
“Hopefully, this discussion can be useful, thus there will be no more statement that ‘we cannot catch fishes’ from any faculty or program in fisheries,” Prof. Jamal commented.
Also present during the session, two students who currently study in the US, Zulfirman Rahyantel Shut (Master student in the School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri-Columbia), who deliver material on ‘Community Engagement in Marine Protected Area’ followed with ‘Marine Biodiversity’ and Aji Bayu Anggoro, M.Sc (Ph.D. Student in University of California Los Angles – UCLA). HUMAS UNS
Reporter: Ratri Hapsari
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
