UGM Master's Student in Agricultural Engineering Participates in International Joint Supervision Program at Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen, Netherlands — Muhammad Athala Fawwaz Dzaky, a master's student in the Agricultural Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and member of the Smart Agriculture Research Center (SARC), Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering FTP UGM, participated in a student mobility activity at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Netherlands, on 1–12 September 2026. This activity is part of the International Joint Supervision Program (IJSP), a joint supervision program that provides students with the opportunity to gain academic and research experience at partner international universities.

Through this program, Athala received supervision from Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho as his advisor from UGM and Dr. Joseph Peller as his advisor from WUR. Dr. Andri also accompanied the implementation of activities during the stay in Wageningen. Athala also had the opportunity to consult with Prof. Gerrit Polder regarding spectral imaging technology and its application in agricultural research.

The main agenda of the activity included research supervision, laboratory practice implementation, scientific discussions, and guidance in manuscript writing for submission to international journals. This series of activities was designed to strengthen the quality of student research while providing experience in conducting research according to international academic standards.

At WUR's Vision + Robotics Laboratory, Athala studied spectral imaging technology and its application for plant phenotyping. By utilizing the equipment and systems available in the laboratory, he gained direct experience in understanding the use of spectral imaging to observe plant characteristics objectively and accurately. This technology has great potential to support the development of precision agriculture and smart farming systems.

Joint supervision sessions also provided a space for Athala to discuss research progress, review the methods used, and improve how to present research results scientifically. Manuscript writing guidance helped Athala organize research results more systematically as part of preparation for publication in international journals.

Beyond academic and research activities, Athala had the opportunity to experience life as a student at WUR. He learned about the campus environment, educational and research facilities, academic culture, and patterns of interaction among students and researchers. This experience provided direct insight into the learning and research ecosystem at one of the world's leading universities in the field of agriculture.

For Athala, the opportunity to study at WUR was one of his dreams. He views WUR as being at the forefront of developing modern agriculture, particularly indoor farming supported by cutting-edge technology. Therefore, the opportunity to study this field directly was an invaluable experience. Athala also gained a deep impression from direct supervision by professional researchers, both when conducting research practice in the laboratory and when learning the process of systematic and high-quality scientific writing.

The implementation of this IJSP strengthens academic cooperation between UGM and WUR, particularly in the fields of agricultural technology, spectral imaging, and plant phenotyping. The cross-institutional supervision program also opens opportunities for students to build international networks, enhance scientific communication skills, and develop understanding of education and research at the global level.

Athala's participation in this program is expected to motivate other UGM Agricultural Engineering students to actively seek international academic experience and prepare themselves for further studies at leading universities worldwide. This activity also supports the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 17 on Partnerships to Achieve the Goals.