Two students and one lecturer from the Environmental Science Program at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) had the opportunity to visit Hokkaido University, Japan, as part of the Sakura Science Exchange Program organized by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
The Japan Science and Technology (JST) is a national research and development agency that plays a central role in the Basic Plan for Science, Technology, and Innovation and aims to promote science and technology in Japan. One of JST’s programs is the Sakura Science Exchange Program, which is designed to promote Japanese science, technology, and innovation to young scientists worldwide.
In 2014, the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) initiated the “Sakura Science Exchange Program.” This program has invited talented young foreign human resources for short-term visits to Japan, giving them the opportunity to experience cutting-edge Japanese science, technology, and culture.
The two UNNES students participating in this program are Cintiya Egi Purwadi and Maulana Malik Wicaksono, accompanied by Dr. Rifa’atunnisa, S.Hut, M.Si., Ph.D. During their visit, they toured the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Engineering at Hokkaido University.
Activities during this visit included an introduction to research being conducted at Hokkaido University, including the development of Bio-Charcoal, the introduction to Arbuscular Mycorrhiza, and genome classification for determining superior seedlings. Additionally, students were introduced to the technologies available in Hokkaido University’s laboratories.
Not only that, but during this short visit, students were also invited to witness the management of agricultural land in Japan firsthand. Destinations visited included the Furano Cheese Factory, Tomita Farm, Nitori Sightseeing Orchard, and the city of Otaru. On the final night of their visit, students were invited to participate in the annual Faculty of Agriculture harvest celebration, enjoying the fruits of the land they had cultivated.
Furthermore, the participation of UNNES students in the Sakura Science Exchange Program is expected to enhance UNNES’s reputation on the international stage.
