The Faculty of Humanities Udayana University and Cornell University, United States Explore Opportunities for Research Collaboration on Sacred Trees in Bali

• Posted by: Admin
• Senin, 30 Maret 2026
• Has been read 27 time(s)

The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, University of Udayana, Prof. I Nyoman Aryawibawa, M.A., Ph.D. received a visit from Prof. Chiara Formichi on Monday (March 30, 2026) at the Faculty of Humanities campus on Jalan Pulau Nias, Denpasar. The meeting, which lasted about an hour, discussed potential research collaboration between the two institutions.

This collaboration plan will focus on the study of large trees with sacred values in Bali, particularly those located in temple compounds and cemeteries, using a multidisciplinary approach and an environmental conservation perspective. The research will also involve Dr. Ni Made Pertiwi Jaya, S.T., M.Si., M.Eng., from the Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Udayana University, as part of a cross-disciplinary effort to examine environmental and cultural issues.

During the meeting, Prof. Aryawibawa was accompanied by the Coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Cultural Studies, Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Darma Putra, M.Litt. Meanwhile, Prof. Formichi attended with her team, namely Paola Cannuciari and Fransiska Eva Lidya Natalia. Prof. Aryawibawa expressed his appreciation for this planned international collaboration and stated the Faculty of Humanities' willingness to participate in joint research. According to him, such collaboration is not only important for capacity building but also contributes to expanding the international exposure of the Faculty of Humanities and Udayana University. He also outlined various international collaborations undertaken by the Faculty of Humanities, particularly in regional language research and the promotion of Tri Hita Karana values as the foundation for sustainable development in Bali.

Furthermore, Prof. Formichi responded positively to the opportunity for collaboration and emphasized the importance of involving undergraduate students in research activities. According to her, student involvement provides an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field, such as conducting interviews and transcribing recordings, so that learning takes place not only in the classroom but also through practical application. She also added that student participation in faculty research is an important part of the learning strategy while also supporting the accreditation assessment of the academic program. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of senior researchers’ roles in mentoring young researchers for academic career development.

This collaboration is expected to be realized soon in the form of concrete research programs that not only contribute to environmental conservation but also strengthen the internationalization of the academic field.