A lecturer from the Department of Geological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UGM, together with the Head of UGM’s Strategic Management Bureau, Wirastuti Widyatmanti, Ph.D., joined the Indonesian Delegation (Delri) led by the Directorate of the Americas and Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The delegation also involved representatives from Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
The activities, which took place from September 28 to October 4, 2025, were held in Copenhagen (Denmark), Tromsø, and Oslo (Norway). The agenda aimed to discuss Indonesia’s opportunity to obtain Observer status on the Arctic Council.
The participation of Dr. Nugroho and the delegation team was intended to convey strategic input and supporting data regarding national interests, potential contributions, and Indonesia’s perspective on cooperation in the Arctic region.
During their time in Copenhagen, the delegation was received by the Indonesian Ambassador to Denmark. They also visited the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which currently holds the position of Chair of the Arctic Council for 2025 to 2027. The meetings covered the geological conditions of Greenland as well as the evolving dynamics of collaboration in the Arctic region.
The agenda then continued to Tromsø, Norway, with visits to the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) and the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) to explore opportunities for Arctic research cooperation.
In Oslo, the delegation held meetings with the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During their stay in Norway, the delegation was also officially received by the Indonesian Ambassador to Norway.
This visit marks an important first milestone in opening avenues for research collaboration, while also reaffirming Indonesia’s commitment to active engagement in strategic global issues, particularly those related to climate change and the interconnection between equatorial regions and the Arctic.
Through this series of discussions, it is hoped that sustainable collaborative initiatives will be established to strengthen international partnerships and enhance the contributions of Indonesia and Universitas Gadjah Mada in supporting sustainable development in the Arctic region.
Author: Public Relations, Department of Geological Engineering
Documentation: Dr. Nugroho Imam Setiawan