The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya Strengthens International Collaboration through the 2024 DOKAR Programme at Universiti Putra Malaysia

As part of its commitment to support Universitas Brawijaya’s (UB) development towards becoming a World-Class University, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya (FKH UB) conducted the 2024 DOKAR (Dosen Berkarya) programme, held at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) from 12–18 September 2024. The programme aimed to strengthen academic and research collaboration between the two institutions, while engaging in in-depth discussions on campus management to achieve international recognition.

The visit focused on exploring cooperation through an Implementation Agreement (IA) as well as the development of research collaborations and knowledge sharing. Key discussions took place between Prof. Dr Goh Yong Meng, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine UPM, and Associate Prof. Dr Hafandi Ahmad from the Department of Pre-Clinical Veterinary Medicine, UPM. From FKH UB, the event was attended by Dr Dyah Ayu Oktavianie, A. P. M. Biotech (Dean of FKH UB), Prof. Dr Dra. Med. Vet. Herawati, MP (Professor at FKH UB), Drh. Analis Wisnu Wardhana, M.Biomed. (Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs), as well as other faculty members Drh. Ajeng Erika, M.Si., and Drh. Shelly Kusumarini R., M.Si.

As part of the academic collaboration, the programme also included a visit to further explore the curriculum and academic programmes of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) programmes at UPM. This serves as a crucial step for FKH UB in preparing similar programmes in alignment with international standards. With UPM ranked #148 in the QS World University Rankings and #40 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Veterinary Science, this collaboration is expected to enhance the quality of veterinary education at UB.

Prof. Dr Goh Yong Meng and his team from UPM shared their experiences in developing internationally standardised curricula, offering valuable insights for FKH UB in its efforts to elevate educational quality. Additionally, the discussions included exploring research collaborations, joint research, and publications that are pertinent to advancing FKH UB’s publication development.

Dr Dyah Ayu Oktavianie stated, “This visit has been highly beneficial for the development of academic and research programmes, with a focus on international collaboration to strengthen graduate competencies and global competitiveness. We hope this cooperation will be sustained and lead to joint research and publications.”

Prof. Dr Dra. Med. Vet. Herawati, MP emphasised that this collaboration is a strategic step towards strengthening FKH UB’s position as a globally oriented institution. “Through this partnership, we hope to produce widely impactful scientific publications and innovations in veterinary medicine that are relevant to the global community,” she said.

The 2024 DOKAR programme is expected to further solidify relations between UB and UPM, while making a significant contribution to the development of education and research at both institutions. This initiative also reinforces FKH UB’s position as an innovative and globally competitive veterinary faculty.