RSPO and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Collaborate to Drive Engagement and Activities for Sustainable Palm Oil Development

Mutual cooperation in research and education engagement activities for youth to achieve sustainable palm oil production in Indonesia

YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA- On November 7, 2023, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen ties, drive meaningful progress in the palm oil industry and inspire the next generation of sustainability advocates. The MoU will see cooperation between the UGM and RSPO in the areas of research and education with support extended for youth engagement activities towards the achievement of a sustainable palm oil sector in Indonesia.

The scope of the cooperation includes collaborative research ventures to address critical issues in the palm oil industry, co-hosting of joint conferences, symposiums and seminars to facilitate knowledge exchange and networking, internships and career development activities as well as youth engagement and empowerment activities to foster champions of sustainable palm oil.

Both UGM and RSPO shall contribute mutually to fund joint activities as well as assign qualified experts and lecturers to assist in the implementation of these activities among others.

"The RSPO's partnership with UGM is part of our strategic focus to strengthen engagement with academic and research establishments to support the development of sustainable palm oil. We believe this is a crucial element in helping to build capacity, fill knowledge gaps and capture lessons learned, to inform current practices, identify challenges and improve future initiatives in the palm oil landscape. This partnership marks one of many other partnerships we have earmarked with international education and research institutions. We look forward to achieving great outcomes through this collaboration," said Francisco Naranjo, Technical Director, RSPO.

Spokesperson of UGM, Prof. Dr. Ova Emilia, M. Med. Ed., Sp.OG(K) Ph.D, Rector of UGMsaid, "Giving students exposure to campus hiring and real-world employment possibilities is one of the goals of this collaboration. Furthermore, I believe that the difficulty lies in turning universities into hubs for corporate research and development. With our wealth of experience, we are now looking for companies to partner with. Furthermore, as an institution, the university will support a wider range of issues in addition to the environment. This, in my opinion, is perfect timing, and we anticipate a successful working relationship. Additionally, we think it will be advantageous for our students, country, and our global community."

To commence, both parties have agreed to formalise a comprehensive agreement dedicated to advancing one of the key components outlined in the MoU, with a specific emphasis on campus hiring. This component encompasses various undertakings, including talent acquisition, career development workshops and seminars, career expos, and additional related activities.

About RSPO:

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Formed in 2004, the RSPO is a multi-stakeholder non-profit organisation that unites members from across the palm oil value chain, including oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks, and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.

As a partnership for progress and positive impact, the RSPO facilitates global change to make the production and consumption of palm oil sustainable. To inspire change, we communicate the environmental and social benefits. To make progress, we catalyse collaboration. To provide assurance, we set the standards of certification.

The RSPO is registered as an international association in Zurich, Switzerland, with main offices in Malaysia and Indonesia, and offices in China, Colombia, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the United States.

For further information, kindly contact: [email protected].

About UGM:

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is an Indonesian public ivy league research university located in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, founded on December 19, 1949. Considered one of the oldest universities in Indonesia, UGM serves as a pillar of educational awakening in Indonesia and purports to be a defender and disseminator of Pancasila, Indonesia's five-pillar ideology.

Located in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, the 360-acre university comprises 18 faculties and 2 schools, 68 undergraduate study programs, 19 International Undergraduate Program (IUP), 23 diploma study programs, 104 master and specialist study programs, 43 Doctorate study programs and 125 joint/double degrees.It has approximately 60,000 students, 1,000-2,000 international students. Universitas Gadjah Mada has been considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in Indonesia.

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