SEAMEO BIOTROP warmly welcomed the delegation from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to Bogor, Indonesia! The visit, held from May 13 to 16, 2024, included 33 students from the USM Biosciences Society, accompanied by the Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, Prof. Dato’ Dr. Amirul Al-Ashraf Bin Abdullah, who is also a Governing Board Member of SEAMEO BIOTROP for Malaysia.
Other notable USM delegates included Prof. Dr. Latiffah Zakaria, Vice Dean; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Darlina Md Naim, Programme Manager (Animal Biology and Plant Biology Programme); Dr. Rosazlina Rusly, Advisor (Biosociety School of Biological Sciences, USM); and Dr. Syarifah Ab Rashid, Lecturer.
The visit's agenda was designed to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange between SEAMEO BIOTROP and Universiti Sains Malaysia. On May 13, the delegation visited Monas and enjoyed shopping at Thamrin City. The activities on May 14 began with an opening ceremony at SEAMEO BIOTROP, followed by a campus tour, a visit to Bogor Botanical Gardens, and a podcast session. On May 15, the delegation participated in the Inter-University Bio-Link 7.0 at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, where they were welcomed by the Dean, Mr. Barry. The visit concluded on May 16 with the delegation's return to Malaysia.
Prof. Dato’ Dr. Amirul Al-Ashraf Bin Abdullah, leading the delegation, shared his enthusiasm about the visit: "This visit marks a significant milestone in our collaboration with SEAMEO BIOTROP. It provides our students with invaluable exposure to international research environments and fosters cross-cultural understanding. We look forward to many more such exchanges in the future."
Iwani Maisarah Binti Norizham, the student coordinator for the visit, added, "This experience has been incredibly enriching for all of us. The opportunity to engage with peers and faculty from SEAMEO BIOTROP and IPB University has broadened our horizons and inspired us to pursue excellence in biosciences. We are grateful for the warm hospitality and the comprehensive agenda prepared for us."
The visit concluded on a high note, with participants expressing optimism about the strengthened ties and future collaborative efforts between the institutions. Together, SEAMEO BIOTROP and Universiti Sains Malaysia continue to inspire and support sustainable science education.