The Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held the signing of a Cooperation Agreement with the Yogyakarta Public Health Laboratory Center (BB Labkesmas Yogyakarta) on the implementation of the tridharma of higher education to support public health programs. The event took place on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) at the KLMB Building, 5th Floor, Faculty of Geography, UGM.
The agreement between the two institutions covers five areas of scope. First, education, research, community service, and testing services for water, soil, air, calibration, and others. Second, the exchange and utilization of data and/or information, science, and technology.
In addition, the cooperation also covers the utilization and development of human resource competencies, as well as dissemination and publication, including the involvement of peer reviewers (mitra bestari) in the publication of scientific journals.
The Dean of the Faculty of Geography, UGM, Dr. Dyah Rahmawati Hizbaron, S.Si., M.T., M.Sc., said that the five agreed areas of scope open up opportunities for both institutions, particularly the fifth point, which she considered interesting, namely dissemination and publication.
She further added that geographic expertise in mapping and spatial analysis can also help process the data held by BB Labkesmas into information that is easier to understand.
“Anything that can be synergized with our expertise, such as mapping skills, we are ready to collaborate on. The data they hold can also be well visualized spatially,” she added.
The Head of the Yogyakarta Public Health Laboratory Center, dr. H. Muhammad Budi Hidayat, also viewed this cooperation as a strategic momentum. This is because epidemiological analysis encompasses three basic elements: time, place, and person.
According to him, it is the place aspect that can later be examined through a geographic approach, so that public health analysis can be viewed from a broader perspective.
The signing of this agreement was carried out by the Dean of the Faculty of Geography, UGM, Dr. Dyah Rahmawati Hizbaron, S.Si., M.T., M.Sc., together with the Head of the Yogyakarta Public Health Laboratory Center, dr. H. Muhammad Budi Hidayat, M.Kes.
The Dean of the Faculty of Geography, UGM, hopes that this cooperation will not stop at a written document, but will continue in the form of activities that have an impact on both institutions and the community.
Writer: Naila Salma