Earning international recognition is a dream for any researcher, and this is precisely what Gerry Utama is working toward. This aspiration aligns closely with UGM’s vision and mission to continuously support the potential of its extended academic family. One concrete step in this direction was taken when Rector Ova Emilia received Gerry at the Rector’s Office on January 22, 2024, and committed to continuing to support his endeavors going forward.
As a follow-up to that meeting, UGM’s Strategic Management Bureau organized a meeting on Thursday, February 20, 2025, in the UGM Rector’s Room, attended by a number of prominent academics and researchers alongside Gerry. This meeting marked one of the initial steps toward formulating a strategy for Indonesia to move forward in joining the Antarctic Treaty and engaging in international collaboration.
The meeting was opened by Wirastuti Widyatmanti, Head of UGM’s Strategic Management Bureau, who emphasized the importance of Indonesia’s involvement in the Antarctic Treaty. She stated that UGM is ready to guide this process and ensure that Antarctic issues receive dedicated attention from all relevant parties.
Gerry Utama, a UGM Faculty of Geography alumnus who recently participated in the Russian Antarctic Expedition (RAE), revealed that Russia’s response to Indonesia’s involvement has been very positive. However, internal support from UGM is needed to follow up on this collaboration. Gerry also highlighted Indonesia’s participation in the BRICS forum as a valuable opportunity to discuss geographical issues on a broader scale.
Adding further depth to the discussion, Prof. Khoirul Rosyadi, Indonesia’s Education and Cultural Attaché to Russia, expressed his readiness to facilitate educational cooperation between Indonesia and Russia. He highlighted the importance of establishing a Russian Literature program at UGM, noting that currently only Universitas Padjadjaran and Universitas Indonesia offer such a program. Prof. Khoirul also conveyed an offer from Russia to explore nuclear technology, which he hoped relevant parties at UGM would follow up on.
In parallel, Prof. Puji Astuti, Director of Partnership and Global Relations at UGM, reported that several collaborative arrangements have already been established between UGM and institutions in Russia. Prof. Puji proposed a re-evaluation and remapping of existing partnerships in order to better optimize the available potential.
Collaboration and the taking of initial steps were the key points emphasized throughout the meeting. “The hope is that UGM can also collaborate together, and that going forward this can become a step that benefits everyone,” said Prof. Khoirul, while affirming that the doors to collaboration and development, particularly in the fields of education and culture, are wide open.
During the discussion, several strategic steps were agreed upon, to be jointly initiated in pursuit of the shared ambition of embracing this wide-open opportunity. “We must not let this issue fade and allow this opportunity to go to waste,” Gerry asserted, a sentiment echoed by Prof. Khoirul. This meeting reflects UGM’s commitment to promoting Indonesia’s active participation in the Antarctic Treaty and strengthening academic and research cooperation with Russia.
Author and documentation: Jason Tambayong