Dr. Christofora Hanny Wijaya

The first thing that came to my mind when I received the offer to become a Hokkaido University Ambassador was a mixed feeling of honor and doubt; I wasn’t sure that I was the proper candidate for this position. On the other hand, I also felt I had an obligation to do something good for Hokkaido University, and saw this as an opportunity for me to give back to the institution which helped propel my career. Fortunately, I had Prof. Ryusuke Hatano, hand in hand with Prof Yasuyuki Hashidoko and Prof. Tsuneo Inoue, who supported me to pursue the offer. I do hope I can do a lot to help HU become one of the 100 top universities in the world.

At HU, I studied in the Department of Agricultural Chemistry for my master and doctoral degrees. My time at HU not only sharpened my skills to work as a professor in Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), but it also gave me an opportunity to create a dream and the tools to pursue real action to achieve that dream. Even now, I am still working on my dream to “create a better world by investing in people as the most valuable resource through love, honesty, passion, and education in the agriculture field”.

Recently, I have been happy to see HU devoting more attention to expanding its international collaborations and efforts to motivate the Japanese students to open their international insight by sending them to study abroad. In addition, more multidisciplinary programs have been developed, including new study programs in English. By recruiting young, outstanding researchers, staff, and students from all over the world, we can expect more comprehensive achievements and creative problem-solving contributions from HU to the scientific community.

The Hokkaido University Liaison Office in Indonesia was established in 2017 and provides information about services such as research opportunities, summer school program, student exchange programs, and scholarship programs between HU and IPB. Daily operations are supported by volunteers affiliated with HU, such as alumni and former PARE(1) and HUSTEP(2) participants. I would like to give special thanks to Prof. Anas Fauzi, Prof. Herry Suhardiyanto, the late Dr. Dahrulsyah, Prof. Nahrowi, and all stakeholders in Bogor Agricultural University for their positive response in providing facilities and access to the opening of the liaison office on the IPB Darmaga campus. I hope that the HU Liaison Office in Indonesia (LO Hokudai) can provide not only information, but also work toward concrete action in implementing available MoUs and benefits for both countries.

I love Sapporo very much and consider it my second home town; a beautiful, clean and “warm” city with hearty people. We do not have snow here in Bogor, Indonesia, so sometimes I miss those beautiful (although very cold!) days in the “winter wonderland.” I also love that “spring spirit” when the leaves start appearing after the long winter, and that beautiful, romantic “Koyo” (autumn leaves) scenery during the autumn. However, I do feel blessed as well living now in Bogor since I don’t need to wear a coat or shovel snow!

In conclusion, I would like to invite all HU alumni from all over the world to feel free to contact us if you have any inquiries. It is our destiny to come into one “Wa” (circle) as a big family of HU, and as family members, it is our obligation to help each other. I am waiting for your comments, suggestions, and proposals for our next step together in the very near future. Finally, to quote from Clark-sensei, “Boys (and Girls) should be Ambitious”, shouldn’t we?

Gambarimashou! Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu!

*(1) Program to Foster Pioneers to Transform the Populations-Activities-Resources and Environments (PARE) Chain. PARE is conducted by the PARE consortium comprised of 6 partner universities in Indonesia and Thailand.

*(2) The Hokkaido University Short-Term Exchange Program. A ‘junior year abroad’ type program designed to provide undergraduate students from affiliated universities with the opportunity to study at Hokkaido University.

1. The Appointment Ceremony at Hokkaido University

2. The Appointment Ceremony at Jakarta, Indonesia

3. Traditional Sundanese dancers at the opening ceremony of the HU Liaison Office in Indonesia

4. Professor Hanny and volunteers of the Liaison Office wearing HU symbol printed original batik (a traditional ware of Indonesia)

クリストフォラ・ハニー・ウィジャヤ氏

ボゴール農業大学教授、北海道大学インドネシア同窓会会長。2016年9月北海道大学アンバサダー就任

北海道大学アンバサダー就任の打診を受けたとき、大変名誉に感じると同時に、自分に務まるだろうかと不安に思いました。その一方で、北大のために何かをしたい、キャリアの基礎となった母校に恩返しをしたい、という使命感を覚えました。北大が世界トップ100大学になるように尽力したいと思っています。

北海道大学では農業化学科で修士号と博士号を取得しました。北大で身につけたスキルはボゴール農業大学で教授になる基礎となり、また北大での日々は、私に夢とその夢を追うための道具を与えてくれました。私は今でも、愛と誠意、そして農学教育をもって最も大事な資源である“人”に投資し、より良い世界をつくるという夢を追い続けています。

さて、北海道大学インドネシアリエゾンオフィスは、ボゴール農業大学・ダルマガキャンパスに2017年に設立され、研究プログラムやサマースクール、交換留学、奨学金などに関する情報を提供しています。日々の運営は、PARE^*1やHUSTEP^*2の修了生ら北大同窓生によるボランティアによって支えられています。今後、情報提供に留まらず、MoUの締結など、日尼両国の利益に資する具体的な成果をあげていくことを期待しています。
私は、美しく清潔で親切な人々が住まう“暖かな都市”札幌が大好きで、第二の故郷だと感じています。美しい（しかしとても寒い！）“白銀の世界”を時々懐かしく思います。また、長い冬の後、若葉が芽吹き始める“春の訪れ”や、美しくロマンチックな紅葉の風景も大好きです。しかし今、コートや除雪が要らないボゴールでの生活も同じくらい恵まれていると感じています。

世界中の北大同窓生の皆さん、私たちは一つの輪、一つの大きな北大家族です。家族の一員として互いに助け合いましょう。次の一歩を共に踏み出すために、あなたからのコメントや提案をお待ちしています。
最後にクラーク博士の言葉を引用して終わります。“少年（そして少女）よ、大志を抱”こうじゃありませんか！！頑張りましょう！！よろしくお願いいたします！

*1　人口・活動・資源・環境に関連する様々な問題を解決し、アジアの発展に主導的な役割を果たすことができるフロンティア人材の育成を目指し、北海道大学とインドネシア・タイのパートナー校6大学が協働して実施しているプログラム
*2　海外の協定大学の学部生を対象とした、英語による短期留学プログラム。

北海道大学の教員と

北海道大学アンバサダー・パートナージャカルタ委嘱式にて

北海道大学インドネシアリエゾンオフィス開所式にて、スンダ族の伝統舞踊ダンサー

北海道大学シンボルマーク入りバティックを着たリエゾンオフィスボランティア達と