Yogyakarta – The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), officially launched the Summer Course on Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries 2026, themed “Reimagining Tropical Farming and Fisheries for the New Generation,” on Monday, 6 July 2026. The opening day was conducted fully online, bringing together more than 55 participants from various countries for the first academic sessions of the international program.
The opening ceremony was officiated by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture UGM, Prof. Dr. Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., who emphasized the importance of international collaboration in preparing the next generation to address global challenges related to food security, climate change, and sustainable natural resource management. He also highlighted that the summer course serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, cross-cultural learning, and academic networking among participants from diverse educational and cultural backgrounds.
The first day introduced participants to the program objectives, learning outcomes, assessment methods, and the overall schedule for the two-week summer course. Participants were also briefed on the final presentation, which will serve as one of the program’s academic evaluation components.
The opening academic sessions featured two speakers from Indonesia. The first lecture was delivered by Vera Ysabel Villa de la Cruz from Philippines , who discussed current issues and innovations in sustainable agricultural development. The second session was presented by Prof. Subejo, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D from UGM Indonesia., who shared insights into agricultural development, community empowerment, and participatory approaches to achieving sustainable farming systems. Both sessions were followed by interactive discussions, allowing participants to exchange ideas and perspectives with the speakers.
All first-day activities were conducted according to the planned schedule, including the official opening ceremony, keynote lectures, interactive discussions, and participant orientation. The online format enabled participants from different countries to actively engage in the learning process despite geographical distances.
The Summer Course on Sustainable Agriculture and Fisheries 2026 will continue with a series of online lectures delivered by international experts throughout the first week. Participants enrolled in the hybrid program will subsequently travel to Yogyakarta to join field visits and experiential learning activities during the second week, while online participants will continue following the academic sessions virtually.
The program reflects the Faculty of Agriculture UGM’s commitment to strengthening the internationalization of higher education, promoting global knowledge exchange, and equipping future leaders with the competencies needed to advance sustainable agriculture and fisheries.
The academic program will continue over the next five days with lectures by renowned experts from Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Japan, Rwanda, and the Philippines, among other countries. Each session has been designed to expose participants to diverse experiences, innovative research, and practical approaches to sustainable agriculture and fisheries, fostering international collaboration and cross-cultural learning throughout the program.
The summer course also contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through international education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global academic partnerships.