UNAIR–UMPSA community service initiative

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has joined forces with Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) through the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD) to launch the Empowerment Journey @ Surabaya, Indonesia 2025. The opening ceremony took place on Wednesday (Oct 1, 2025) at the Dewa Ruci Hall, Airlangga Convention Center, UNAIR MERR-C Campus. The event was attended by UNAIR leadership, UMPSA delegates, and students from both universities.

Prof. Hery Purnobasuki, M.Si., Ph.D., Head of UNAIR’s Institute for Sustainable Community Services (LPMB), emphasized that the initiative is not merely an academic event but a genuine expression of international community service. “This program goes beyond academic exchange, it translates knowledge into real contributions for the community, especially in Surabaya and East Java. We hope it will bring direct benefits and promote long-term sustainability,” he said.

Representing UMPSA, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ramadhansyah Putra Jaya expressed his appreciation for UNAIR’s warm hospitality and highlighted the strong potential of the partnership. “I’m confident this collaboration will not be the first and the last. It can grow into joint research projects, co-authored publications, and wider academic mobility,” he remarked.

According to WUACD Secretary, Dr. Niko Azhari Hidayat, Sp.BTKV (Subsp.VE) FIATCVS, the association was founded in 2018 and now has over 40 member universities. WUACD focuses on SDG-driven community service initiatives, ranging from student mobility and collaborative research to international conferences. “Our mission is to strengthen partnerships among universities worldwide. We aim to move beyond knowledge sharing and turn compassion into real actions that uplift communities,” he explained.

The program is expected to serve as a foundation for deepening the partnership between UNAIR and UMPSA, opening new opportunities for collaboration, and advancing cross-border contributions to community development. As part of the initiative, UNAIR and UMPSA conducted a Kitchen of Kindness: Cooking and Sharing Meals activity at Rumah Singgah Surabaya, a shelter for patients and their families. Students and volunteers joined together to cook and distribute meals, fostering warm interactions with the residents. “We hope our friends’ presence brings encouragement and comfort. The residents here truly enjoy being visited and accompanied,” said Bambang, one of the shelter’s coordinators.