Dr. Zvonimir Nevistic (Zagreb University, Croatia) with USK faculty and graduate students during the PASEC International Guest Lecture, Banda Aceh, 11 May 2026.
The Graduate School of Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) hosted an international guest lecture on 11 May 2026, welcoming Dr. Zvonimir Nevistic of Zagreb University, Croatia, as part of the PASEC Program (Promoting Agriculture and Sustainable Environment Curricula Modernisation Supporting Climate Change Resilient Society). The event brought together postgraduate students from four master’s programmes to engage with cutting-edge knowledge in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.
Lecture Overview
Titled “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Urban and Rural Environments,” the lecture provided a comprehensive overview of UAV applications in spatial data collection, environmental monitoring, disaster mitigation, and territorial management. Dr. Nevistic drew on European field experience to illustrate the technical and regulatory distinctions between urban and rural UAV deployment, and explored the technology’s potential in coastal surveillance, disaster mapping, and sustainable resource management.
Participating Programmes
The lecture attracted graduate students from four SPs USK programmes with direct relevance to the session’s themes: Natural Resource Management, Disaster Science, Integrated Coastal Resource Management, and Environmental Management. The cross-programme participation underscored the interdisciplinary relevance of UAV technology to Indonesia’s agricultural, environmental and disaster-risk challenges.
Outcomes and Impact
A lively question-and-answer session followed the presentation, with students probing both technical applications and research collaboration opportunities. The exchange reinforced the value of direct academic engagement with international experts — a core tenet of the PASEC Program — and is expected to inform ongoing and forthcoming graduate research at USK.
- This activity reflects the PASEC Program’s commitment to strengthening postgraduate education at USK by expanding its international academic network and equipping future researchers with the advanced technological competencies needed to address Indonesia’s agricultural, environmental and development challenges.