Hasanuddin University reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening sustainable marine research collaboration by receiving a visit from the Vice President (International Exchange/Japanese Language Education) and Director of the Morito Institute of Global Higher Education, Kazuhiko Koike. The Hiroshima University delegation was received directly by Unhas Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, M.Sc. in the Rector’s Room, 8th Floor of the Unhas Rectorate Building, Tamalanrea, Makassar, on Wednesday (18 February).
The strategic meeting discussed developing a collaborative Mangrove Restoration and Aquaculture project as a model for science- and innovation-based coastal management. The program is designed to integrate mangrove ecosystem restoration with productive, environmentally friendly aquaculture systems.
On the occasion, Prof. JJ stressed that mangrove restoration and aquaculture are strategic sectors relevant to Indonesia’s character as an archipelagic country. According to Prof. JJ, this collaboration can drive impactful research that benefits communities and the environment directly.
Prof. JJ further outlined a number of concrete steps Unhas has taken to strengthen the marine and fisheries sector. One is the development of an ice production facility on Barrang Lompo Island to maintain the quality of fishers’ catches. The initiative aims to produce fresher fish, raise their selling value, and strengthen the well-being of coastal communities through science- and technology-based interventions.
“This cooperation is oriented not only toward academic outputs but also toward lessons learned in the integrated management of mangrove areas and aquaculture. The model produced by the pilot project is expected to be replicated in various coastal areas of Indonesia,” Prof. JJ explained.
Prof. JJ also stressed the importance of developing a double degree program as part of accelerating the campus’s internationalization. In the context of collaboration with Hiroshima University, Unhas is opening the possibility of using financing support from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) to widen student access to global-standard education.
On the same occasion, Prof. Kazuhiko Koike said that Hiroshima University has a strong commitment to developing sustainable marine and fisheries science. Prof. Koike stressed the importance of integrating Japan’s experience in coastal management with the resource potential and research strengths of Unhas.
“This collaboration is expected not only to produce a sustainable mangrove restoration model but also to have a concrete impact on strengthening the marine and fisheries sector. We believe that with the quality of Unhas researchers, science- and innovation-based coastal area management can be achieved optimally,” Prof. Koike explained.
As a follow-up, the two institutions are designing a three-year pilot project to be carried out at Unhas’s aquaculture ponds in Barru Regency. The site is projected to serve as a field laboratory for testing the integration of mangrove rehabilitation systems with fish farming that is productive and adaptive to climate change.
In implementation, Unhas has appointed the Shrimp Tech Research Collaboration Center as the lead institution that will coordinate the program. This research center plays a role in developing sustainable aquaculture pond models, rehabilitating mangrove ecosystems, and integrating science-based farming technology.
Besides applied research, the cooperation includes a student exchange program and the development of a startup innovation program in mangroves and aquaculture. This academic collaboration is expected to strengthen the transfer of knowledge and technology and to open opportunities for a double degree scheme.
On the policy side, the project also targets drafting policy recommendations based on field research results. These recommendations are expected to serve as a reference for managing mangrove areas and aquaculture ponds productively without neglecting ecosystem balance.
The visit of Prof. Kazuhiko Koike marks a strengthening of the international collaboration between Unhas and Hiroshima University in building a sustainable coastal management model. Through synergy in research, education, and innovation, the two institutions can make a real contribution to strengthening the blue economy and the resilience of Indonesia’s coastal ecosystems.
The event concluded with a joint discussion, also attended by the Vice Rector for Partnerships, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Business (Prof. Dr. Eng. Adi Maulana, S.T., M.Phil), the Chair of the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) (Prof. dr. Muh. Nasrum Massi, Ph.D., Sp.MK(K)), and the Research Team Leader (Prof. Dr. Ir. Iqbal Djawad, M.Sc). (*/mir)
Editor: Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.