Tag: Indonesia

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to strengthen its global engagement in healthcare and higher education. During an official visit to the Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) Hospital and IJN University College (IJN UC) Malaysia on Wednesday (February 4, 2026), UNAIR expanded its strategic partnerships covering medical training, cardiovascular research, and patient-centered services.

The delegation was led by UNAIR Rector alongside senior university leaders. Their presence underscored the university’s commitment to forging international partnerships that are practical, sustainable, and capable of delivering long-term impact.

At the meeting, UNAIR conveyed its appreciation for the effective implementation of the existing Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), particularly the fellowship programs for healthcare professionals. The university also welcomed the ongoing transition in the management of the fellowship scheme, previously facilitated through IJN University College, viewing it as a step toward stronger academic coordination and improved educational standards.

In his address, UNAIR Rector Prof. Dr. Muhammad Madyan, SE, MSi, MFin said the meeting marked a key opportunity to align perspectives while widening cross-faculty cooperation. “This meeting allows us to harmonize our understanding and further develop collaborative initiatives with the Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Psychology, and the Faculty of Public Health,” he said.

The discussion between UNAIR and IJN was open and productive, focusing on the preparation of a revised cooperation framework to guide collaboration over the next five years. Both institutions agreed to reinforce a partnership that extends beyond academic exchange to produce measurable improvements in healthcare delivery.

In addition to strengthening existing initiatives, UNAIR proposed expanding collaboration into several priority areas. These include clinical observation and patient services to raise the standard of cardiac care, joint cardiovascular research, academic exchanges for staff and students through IJN University College, and specialized nursing training programs emphasizing critical care, operating room practices, and cardiovascular expertise.

Concluding the meeting, Prof. Madyan expressed optimism that UNAIR, IJN Hospital, and IJN University College would cultivate a long-term partnership integrating education, research, and healthcare services. He noted that such collaboration is expected to advance medical science while contributing to better quality of life for communities in Indonesia and Malaysia alike.

Universitas Airlangga’s Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE) is strengthening its internationalization efforts by expanding global partnerships and overseeing student exchange and international research initiatives. As part of that push, UNAIR welcomed an official delegation from the Embassy of Sweden Jakarta on Friday (Feb. 13, 2026) at the Banteng Room, ASEEC Tower, Dharmawangsa-B Campus. The delegation was led by H.E.Daniel Blockert, Ambassador of Sweden to Indonesia, Timor-Leste and ASEAN, accompanied by three embassy representatives. They were received by UNAIR’s senior leadership and officials from AGE.

Vice Rector for Academic, Student and Alumni Affairs Prof. Ir. Mochammad Amin Alamsjah, MSi, PhD, opened the discussion with an overview of UNAIR and its strategic priorities. He said the meeting could pave the way for stronger research ties and institutional cooperation. “We hope this dialogue will create broader opportunities to build collaboration between Indonesian and Swedish students,” he said.

Ambassador Blockert highlighted the growing potential for partnerships between Swedish and Indonesian institutions. Interest in cooperation, he noted, has increased steadily in recent years. “In terms of education, I see strong interest from Swedish universities and institutions in finding partners here. There is broad interest in Southeast Asia, but many are specifically looking at Indonesia,” he said.

He added that Indonesian students have significant opportunities to take part in exchange programs, as many Swedish universities are actively seeking candidates from Indonesia. “They are highly valued and popular among universities. Indonesian students are known for being ambitious and for making the most of their academic opportunities,” he said.

During the session, several faculty leaders presented their flagship programs to explore potential collaboration with Swedish counterparts. The faculties represented included Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Nursing.

Responding to the presentations, Ambassador Blockert emphasized the mutual benefits of deeper engagement. He pointed out that much of Sweden’s research focuses on sustainability, environmental challenges and technological solutions, areas that require international collaboration, shared data and diverse expertise. Indonesia’s scale and complexity, he said, make it an important partner.

The 2025 Rector’s Conference at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad on Wednesday (Dec 3, 2025) served as a key opportunity for Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) to reinforce its strategic role within the global higher education landscape. Across discussion panels, university forums, and the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence (CCoE) meeting, UNAIR positioned itself as a drive for solving global issues, particularly through collaborative research, technological innovation, international talent management, and community-engagement networks. The UNAIR delegation was led by Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development (RICD) Prof Dr Muhammad Miftahussurur SpPD-KGEH PhD; Executive Secretary of the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD), Prof Dr Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih MSi; and Head of UNAIR’s LPJPHKI, Prof Ferry Efendi SKep Ns MSc PhD. Their presence also marked Indonesia’s representation in global academic diplomacy.

The conference opened with a welcome address from COMSTECH HE Coordinator General Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, who underscored the importance of strengthening cross-border partnerships in science and technology. The event provided a strategic venue for cultivating a global innovation ecosystem responsive to technological change, interdisciplinary research demands, and the development of highly skilled talent.

During the Introduction of International Universities session, UNAIR outlined its achievements and strategic priorities. These included research transformation, enhanced scientific publication quality, innovation downstreaming, and expanded international partnerships. Representing UNAIR, Prof Miftahussurur reaffirmed the university’s contributions to the global academic ecosystem. “UNAIR views COMSTECH as a crucial platform for widening research collaboration, academic mobility, and science-based innovation. These efforts support talent capacity-building and strengthen Indonesia’s visibility in international higher education networks,” he stated.

As Executive Secretary of WUACD, Prof Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih highlighted the organization’s progress, achievements, and potential areas for collaboration with COMSTECH. She explained that WUACD focuses on community development, social transformation, and using research to improve societal well-being. Collaboration with COMSTECH opens opportunities in several areas, including research-based community development programs, cross-border capacity-building initiatives, technology-driven community empowerment, and multidisciplinary projects that involve member universities from both networks.

Prof Puspaningsih emphasized that integrating WUACD and COMSTECH strengths can amplify the social impact of university research. The partnership would also reinforce UNAIR’s standing as a global leader in community-based education and social innovation. “This collaboration strengthens international community-development networks and ensures research delivers real benefits rather than ending solely in publications,” she said.

The international gathering also featured two key discussion sessions. The first, Character-Based Leadership and Academic Ethics Foundation, explored a Prophetic Character-Based Leadership model centered on integrity, empathy, discipline, and responsibility. These principles are considered vital for strengthening academic leadership and fostering an ethical research culture, including in cross-border talent management.

The second session, Future Universities – Society, Economy, and Industry Nexus, examined how universities must evolve amid digital transformation, innovation-driven economic shifts, and global industrial demands. The discussion addressed adaptation to the digital and AI revolutions, stronger industry partnerships, accelerated innovation commercialization, transdisciplinary learning models, and aligning research with global social and economic needs. UNAIR’s innovation ecosystem, comprised of AGE, DRI, LPJPHKI, LIHTR, PASINBIS, LPMB, and various leading research centers, was highlighted as a model that partner universities could emulate.

During the annual meeting, discussions centered on the need for a comprehensive, collaborative, and flexible system for managing global research and innovation talent. UNAIR stressed the importance of a strategic framework involving talent identification, competency development, academic mobility, and diaspora engagement to strengthen global research cooperation. This framework aligns with international trends emphasizing talent mobility, collaborative research networks, and cross-border innovation ecosystems.

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to expand its global reach through strategic international academic partnerships. A delegation conducted official visits to the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), two of Pakistan’s leading universities. The agenda focused on expanding international research cooperation, academic exchanges, global scientific publications, and the downstreaming and commercialization of university-based innovation.

The delegation was led by UNAIR’s Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development (RICD), Prof Dr Muhammad Miftahussurur SpPD-KGEH PhD, joined by Executive Secretary of the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD), Prof Dr Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih MSi, and Head of the Center for Journal Development, Publication, and Intellectual Property Rights (LPJPHKI), Prof Ferry Efendi Skep Ns MSc PhD.

The meeting was held in the IIUI Rectorate Conference Hall on Tuesday (11/2/2025), attended by the acting president, vice presidents, and senior leadership members. IIUI expressed a strong commitment to strengthening academic collaboration among Asian universities as part of its effort to advance higher education ecosystems across the Islamic world. During the academic dialogue, UNAIR and IIUI identified multiple areas for strategic partnership. These include international joint research in STEM and the social sciences, faculty and student mobility programs, co-hosting international seminars and conferences, collaborative scientific publication platforms, and academic capacity building through global networks.

Prof Miftahussurur emphasized that the internationalization of research is essential to UNAIR’s goal of becoming a World Class University. “UNAIR is committed to broadening its regional and global footprint. This collaboration allows us to strengthen research quality, expand scientific influence, and establish long-term, sustainable academic networks,” he said.

UNAIR delegates with NUST’s research director and representatives (Photo: By courtesy)

While the visit to IIUI centered on academic cooperation, the visit to NUST focused on enhancing the downstreaming of research and transforming innovations into economic assets. The UNAIR delegation was welcomed by NUST’s Director of Research before touring two of the university’s leading units. The first was the National Science and Technology Park (NSTP), Pakistan’s largest center for innovation commercialization and research-driven startup development. The second was the School of Interdisciplinary Engineering & Sciences (SINES), a hub that integrates multidisciplinary research for industry-focused solutions.

During the visit, Prof Miftahussurur stressed the need for Indonesian universities to shift their research paradigm. “UNAIR’s research must create tangible impact, not only in academia but also economically. NUST illustrates how a university can function as an innovation center that generates applicable technologies and commercial products. This serves as a valuable lesson for UNAIR,” he asserted. NUST expressed interest in collaborating in several areas such as innovation downstreaming and commercialization, science and technology park development model, university-based startup ecosystems, joint research with shared patent potential, and transdisciplinary researcher exchange programs.

During the same visit, Prof Miftahussurur also delivered a guest lecture at NUST on Gastric Dysbiosis and H. pylori to multidisciplinary students and faculties. Meanwhile, Prof Dr Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih presented a lecture titled Introduction to Bioinformatics and Machine Learning: Role and Challenges.

UNAIR, IIUI, and NUST agreed to follow up the meetings by developing a more structured collaborative action plan. Priority areas include strengthening institutional partnerships, intensifying academic and research exchanges, expanding opportunities for internationally indexed scientific publications, accelerating research-based innovation downstreaming, and increasing the shared impact of collaborative research and innovation pipelines.

The UNAIR delegation’s visit to Pakistan underscores the university’s growing role in Indonesia’s academic diplomacy. The initiative aligns with UNAIR’s vision to enhance global contributions through innovative research, reputable scientific publications, and sustainable innovation commercialization.

The Faculty of Vocational Studies Universitas Airlangga welcomed a delegation from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMP-SA) as part of a Collaborative Research Visit series. The initiative marks an important step toward strengthening UNAIR’s international network, particularly in the development of applied research and in elevating the overall quality of vocational education.

The visit featured extensive discussions on long-term collaboration opportunities between UNAIR and UMP-SA. The partnership is expected to cover joint research, student and staff mobility programs, and faculty capacity development initiatives. Both institutions also explored the possibility of designing an integrated curriculum aligned with global industry demands. These efforts underscore the Faculty of Vocational Studies’ role in driving cross-border academic cooperation.

Excellence and relevance in a rapidly changing era

Dean of the Faculty of Vocational Studies, Prof Dian Yulie Reindrawati, emphasized that international partnerships are essential to the faculty’s strategic vision of delivering vocational education that is both excellent and future-oriented. “Collaborations like this create pathways for lecturers and students to engage in research and learning at the global level. We believe our partnership with UMP-SA will significantly contribute to advancing innovation and strengthening vocational competencies,” she said.

In addition to exploring joint research prospects, the visit also addressed preparations for mobility programs that would enable scholarly exchange between both institutions. Through direct academic engagement, UNAIR and UMP-SA aim to build a more dynamic and adaptive collaboration ecosystem that supports the advancement of applied sciences on an international scale.

Representatives from UMP-SA expressed appreciation for the warm hospitality and openness shown by UNAIR’s Faculty of Vocational Studies. They noted that UNAIR has cultivated a progressive vocational ecosystem that is well-positioned to collaborate on applied research initiatives aimed at addressing community needs.

The visit reaffirms UNAIR Faculty of Vocational Studies’ commitment to expanding its global reach and contributing to the growth of vocational education across Southeast Asia. Collaboration with UMP-SA Malaysia forms a key foundation for fostering innovation, promoting knowledge exchange, and delivering relevant educational experiences for future generations.