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SDGs Center of Universitas Airlangga proposes collaborative initiative with Western Sydney University

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

In a groundbreaking move towards global sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Center at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has extended an invitation for collaboration with Western Sydney University (WSU). This initiative aims to foster international cooperation in addressing critical issues outlined by the United Nations’ SDGs.

Capacity building program for public servants

One of the critical aspects of this collaboration is the proposed Capacity Building Program scheduled for the coming year. This program explicitly targets the professional development of public servants (ASN—Aparatur Sipil Negara) and will be conducted in partnership with Western Sydney University. The program aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of participants, equipping them with the tools necessary to contribute meaningfully to achieving SDGs.

Innovative data system mentorship

The collaboration also includes a pioneering data system mentorship program. It recognizes the importance of data in informed decision-making, and this initiative will facilitate the exchange of expertise between UNAIR and WSU in the development and implementation of cutting-edge data systems. The mentorship program empowers both institutions to leverage data effectively to drive progress toward sustainable development.

SDGs Festival: A Celebration of Global Goals

As part of the collaboration, both universities are gearing up to host an SDGs Festival. This festival will serve as a platform for raising awareness and fostering a shared commitment to the SDGs. Through a series of events, discussions, and interactive sessions, the SDGs Festival aims to engage students, faculty, and the broader community in a collective dialogue on sustainability.

Dr. Bayu Arie Fianto, Head of SDGs Center Universitas Airlangga, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “This partnership with Western Sydney University is a significant step towards creating a global network of institutions dedicated to advancing the SDGs. By combining our strengths and resources, we can profoundly impact the world’s most pressing challenges.”

The collaboration between SDGs Center Universitas Airlangga and Western Sydney University exemplifies the spirit of international cooperation and underscores the shared commitment of both institutions to building a sustainable future. As the world looks towards a decade of action for the SDGs, such partnerships are crucial for realizing the vision of a more equitable and sustainable world.

From Medan to Gwangju: Sister City Collaboration in the Spirit of Friendship and International Cooperation

Posted on by Maryam Mazaya

Students from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) embarked on a cultural visit to Gwangju, South Korea, aiming to strengthen bilateral relations through cultural exchange and explore potential collaborations in education.

This activity is part of the Sister City program between the City Government of Medan and the City Government of Gwangju.rnrnThe Sister City Program is an initiative between two cities from different countries or regions aimed at establishing official relationships to promote cultural, economic, and social exchanges. True to its name, Sister City is grounded in the similarities of two cities despite their geographical differences. The program has gained international recognition, especially in bilateral relations between countries, particularly in non-capital regions.rnrnThe City Government of Medan initiated Sister City collaborations in 1997 with several cities in different countries, including Gwangju (South Korea), Ichikawa (Japan), Chengdu (China), Georgetown, and Ipoh (Malaysia)rnrnTypically involving student exchanges, government official visits, economic collaborations, and joint cultural programs, the program aims to strengthen the relationship between two cities and allows their residents to learn and understand each other’s cultures.

In November 2023, the Medan City Government implemented the Sister City program to Gwangju, South Korea. The initiative included sending 12 students from four major universities in Medan.rnrnDuring the program, Medan students were accompanied by students from Gwangju, originating from Chungnam National University (CNU) and the Gwangju International Center (GIC), a non-governmental organization in Gwangju.rnrnThe student exchange activities also included panel discussions addressing relevant global and local issues. This provided an opportunity for both Medan and Gwangju students to understand cultural differences and worldviews, ultimately improving cross-cultural communication skills.

In terms of arts and culture, students from FISIP USU and CNU collaborated in organizing art exhibitions, traditional performances, and other cultural activities. This not only enriched the artistic experiences of both groups of students but also broadened the appreciation of arts and culture from each city. The active involvement of FISIP USU students in this Sister City program creates opportunities for learning and personal development. Through cultural exchanges, social experiences, and joint projects, students not only strengthen the relationship between Gwangju and Medan but also become ambassadors for peace and cross-cultural understanding. To further strengthen the established relationship, CNU students will visit Medan in February to learn about the local arts and culture. With a collaborative spirit, this program is expected to leave a positive impact in building bridges between two different cities, connected by the spirit of friendship and cooperation.

KJI 2023 Creates New Bridge Engineers for Indonesia

Posted on by umy

The need for engineers in the bridge sector is still considered high to meet the quality of bridges in Indonesia. This is in accordance with what has been said by Dr. Eng. Fauzri Fahimuddin, M.Sc., an engineer in the field of civil engineering and chairman of the KJI 2023 jury. When met on the third day of the KJI 2023 implementation on Wednesday (18/10), he said that the entire process that had been carried out by the participants from the start Competition registration can produce professional engineers.

“Indonesia needs many new engineers. The KJI 2023 participants have indirectly practiced how to design bridges after going through various selection stages until they reached the final which will be useful when they become bridge engineers in the future,” said Fauzri. He also assessed that all KJI 2023 participants had passed the bridge concept testing, starting from planning, design, implementation, to bridge maintenance.

Fauzri said that the 2023 KJI finalists had been prepared to fill the need for Indonesian engineers in the bridge sector. As an academic, he also wants to develop the values ​​needed by prospective engineers. “In the campus environment, we usually call it an academic atmosphere. How can these students, especially civil engineering students, conduct dialogue with lecturers, colleagues, and even regional stakeholders who can support their ideas. And they can experience this in the world of work, including as bridge engineers,” he said.

The main objective of KJI 2023 is not to find champions, but how to prepare the finalists to become bridge engineers in the future who will oversee bridge construction in Indonesia. In its implementation, the 2023 KJI has unique features that differentiate it from the previous year’s KJI.

“We deliberately created our own niche this year, where we wanted a bridge design that was optimal in its application. Not just a strong but expensive design, but an ideal bridge design that is strong, cost efficient and easy to implement. This concept should be applied by the KJI 2023 participants. They already understand that there must be adjustments in considering bridge design, which not only requires advanced knowledge but also sharp intuition and can be trained through this competition. It’s as if they have already practiced building a real bridge,” concluded Fauzri.

Finally, Fauzri also said that the values ​​he mentioned had been experienced through KJI 2023. He also hoped that the finalists’ sensitivity and intuition in the field of bridge design would start to grow and could continue to be honed. (ID)

Developing Countries Elderly’s Life Quality Indicators Being Developed by USU Staff

Posted on by Fotarisman Zaluchu

Senior Lecturer at the Social Anthropology Department, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), is currently developing indicators to assess the life quality of the elderly age group. These indicators will become the first assessment ever made to measure the population of eldery in the context of a developing country.

Dr. Nurman Achmad, S.Sos, M.Soc.Sc, who are the leader of this research, explained that the life quality of the elderly age group is crucial. Particularly, nowadays the trend of the number of elderly in Indonesia keeps increasing along with the improvement of life quality. However, the indicators applied tend to use the life quality standard from Western countries. “It is not reasonable to compare the life quality of the elderly age group from one culture to another”

He added, “In the research I have conducted among more than 500 participants, Indonesian elderly have a life quality reflected from the subjective assessment indicators towards their own happiness. Using the qualitative approach, it turns out that the Indonesian elderly live happily if they feel they have completed their duties raising their children, and they are even happier if they have had grandchildren. For them, the children’s independence makes them feel satisfied, and even if they have to live by themselves, they will be just fine. The Indonesian elderly are proud and feel successful because they have completed their life duties as parents”.

Nurman Achmad explained that “the ethnics in Indonesia have life stages and every stage provides the indicators of a life quality at the perception and spiritual satisfaction level. Of course, those things cannot be captured by quantitative indicators, especially if those do not use the reflection of the elderly as the objects of life quality assessment.”

“If we apply the indicators of the Western countries, the result is all of our elderly belong to the category of not having a good life quality because the present indicators being used measure a life quality more physically,” said Nurman Achmad. Meanwhile, the meaning of humans’ life quality tends to relate more with nonphysical matters. Moreover, the worse impact from such physical assessment measurement is that “by adopting the indicators from outside of our lives, we seem to under estimate the elderly life quality that has actually been recorded in the symbols, procession, and values of life of Indonesian people.”

“We will include the indicators of self happiness, self accomplishment, and satisfaction toward oneself, and even spiritual peace, which have been abandoned in the indicators of the elderly life quality,” said Nurman Achmad. Right now, those indicators are being developed to be tested later on at a much wider scale in Asia. Nurman Achmad is hoping that these indicators will someday obtain a wide recognition and become the contribution of social sciences from Universitas Sumatera Utara to the global academic world

UPI Research Team Explores Cognitive Processes of Critical Thinking Skills through Neurolinguistics

Posted on by Berita UPI

A research team from the University of Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) is currently delving into the cognitive processes behind critical thinking skills through a neuroscience lens. The team, led by Dadang Sudana, M.A., Ph.D., includes senior members Wawan Gunawan, M.A., Ph.D., and Dr. Jatmika Nurhadi, M.Hum. Additionally, four students—Hazim Mujahid, Aulia Shabrina, Nur Cipta Mustikasari, and Syifa Nuraini—have actively contributed to the research.

One of their notable publications, titled “Superior Frontal Gyrus and Higher Order Thinking Skills: A sLORETA Study of Brain Activity during Speaking,” reveals how the Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFG) plays an integral role in supporting Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) when an individual speaks.

Utilizing the standardized Low-Resolution Brain Electromagnetic Tomography (sLORETA) technique, the researchers gauged participants’ neural activity, pinpointing the highest peak values achieved during tasks involving HOTS operational verbs. Results indicated that activity within the SFG peaked when participants articulated tasks such as Comparing, Detailing, and Clarifying.

“With advancements in technology, like brain scanning, researchers can now observe processes occurring in the mind, paving the way for understanding how to optimize critical thinking skills based on brain functions,” shared Dadang Sudana.

This research not only sheds light on the realm of education and training but also aspires to formulate a model to cultivate critical thinking skills. As a next step, the research team plans on developing an Android/iOS application aimed at honing these critical thinking skills.

Let’s defend our friends: Moral movement against sexual violence in higher education institutions in Indonesia

Posted on by Fotarisman Zaluchu

Sexual violence in higher education institutions in Indonesia still happens very often. The perpetrators are lecturers and students themselves, and this is very much related to power relation imbalance and gender inequality. As a result, the female students, as the parties with the most inferior position so far in the patrilineal culture-oriented community, can only be silent and do nothing. This situation really puts them in a vulnerable position as the victims of sexual violence.

The existing data reveal that the number of reports filed to the Task Force of PPKS (Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence) is very few. This means, the victims feel reluctant to report the incidents they have experienced.

So far what has become the problem is that many victims of sexual violence have experienced bad incidents without any precaution from their surrounding environment, despite the fact that sexual violence is an incident that can be prevented. Every student on campus will have friends or classmates having interaction with one another in many activities. Therefore, instead of waiting for the sexual violence victims to appear, early prevention or precaution must be carried out by those present in the area of incidents.

The Tim Fortune (Fortune Team) from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, the Department of Social Anthropology, with the funding assistance from the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Research, and the support of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has made an important breakthrough. The Tim Fortune has designed a training for student volunteers to play a role as the “interceptors” of sexual violence incidents. The students will be trained to be active and take initiatives when someone is experiencing sexual violence.

To ease the implementation of the prevention principles, Tim Fortune consisting of David Dodi Lumbantobing, Paula Hutriany Sigiro, Novi Fitriani Br Nazara, and Cecilia Angela Sitanggang has created a pictured comic. The comic entitled “Ayo Bela Teman Kita” (Let’s Defend Our Friends) uses the figures of themselves, also as students, who seem to have conversations to encourage other students to participate in preventing sexual violence occurring in higher education institutions.

The advisor of Tim Fortune, Dr. Fotarisman Zaluchu, stated that Tim Fortune has created amazing works of art. “The comic has been tried out in classes, and students become very interested in it. Every time the comic is tried out, students become willing to be volunteers and have stated their willingness by signing a form of commitment.”

Tim Fortune has asked students to accompany their friends or classmates that are requested to have discussion by someone including by their own lecturer. Besides that, students have to be courageous to reprimand someone who says something indecent and looks inappropriately at a girl who is their friend or classmate. Moreover, the most important thing is that students are asked to fight someone who would like to do actions having the tendency toward sexual violence. This program will be continued to train more and more students in a wider range.

UNAIR, UTM collaboration improves Ecotourism in Sungai Melayu, Malaysia

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

Universitas Airlangga has once again shown its commitment to becoming a higher education institution with contribution and impact on society. This commitment is displayed not only in Indonesia but also to the world. This time, UNAIR collaborated with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to hold a community service activity in Kampong Sungai Melayu, Johor, Malaysia, on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

International community service pioneer

UNAIR initiated the establishment of the World University Association for Community Development ( WUACD ) in 2018 to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions to improve the quality of community service activities, both in Indonesia and other countries. This time, WUACD UNAIR designed a collaborative community service program with UTM targeting communities along Sungai Melayu, in Johor, Malaysia.

This activity involved 21 experts from UNAIR who visited Kampong Sungai Melayu and shared innovative ideas for developing sustainable ecotourism in Sungai Melayu. The activity was coordinated by Edi Dwi Riyanto, PhD from the Faculty of Humanities, and attended by the Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Empowerment, Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih.

Encouraging collaboration of cognate countries

YB Datuk Pandak bin Ahmad, one of the representatives of the Kampong Sungai Melayu community, welcomed UNAIR delegates warmly. He is an Iskandar City People’s Representative Council member and an alumnus of UTM.

“We are very proud to welcome guests from Universitas Airlangga, because Indonesia and Malaysia are cognate countries. We should work together and collaborate,” he said during the opening speech.

Prof. Nyoman delivered her remarks as a representative from UNAIR. She said UNAIR academics are ready to devote their expertise for mutual benefit, not only for the people of Indonesia but also for the global community, which in this case are the residents of Kampong Sungai Melayu in Malaysia.

“UNAIR is committed to becoming a university that contributes and gives an impact to the world,” said Prof. Nyoman.

Supporting Sustainable Development Goals

In addition to achieving the 17th goal of SDGs, Partnership for the Goals, this community service activity also supports achieving two other goals: the 11th goal, Sustainable Cities and Communities and the 14th goal about Life Below Water. In the knowledge-sharing session,  Dr. Veryl Hasan SPi MP strengthened the achievement of the 14th goal of SDGs. He is one of UNAIR experts in Fisheries and Marine Sciences. Then, it continued with a discussion between representatives of UNAIR, UTM, and the people of Kampong Sungai Melayu. (*)

Anargya ITS Successfully Secures Champion Title at FSAE Japan 2023

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

The Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) Japan is an annual international electric car competition that challenges students to design and produce a single-passenger car resembling a formula racing car. This year’s FSAE Japan competition featured 62 teams from various world-class universities in China, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, and the host country, Japan. For this year, Anargya ITS was the only team representing Indonesia.

The General Manager of Team Anargya ITS, Rafif Herdian Noor, revealed that there were two categories in this international competition: Static Event and Dynamic Event. Anargya ITS Team achieved 3rd place in the Business Plan Presentation and also received the 3rd place award for the View Drawing category. ” We put in tremendous effort to visualize every aspect of the business plan and the view drawing for the latest version of the Anargya car,” he said.

In response to their victory, Rafif, a third-year Industrial Mechanical Engineering student at ITS, acknowledged that their success was driven by innovation. Anargya Team ITS made several improvements from the previous electric car, one of which was changing the material of the car body to carbon fiber. “This material change can reduce the car’s mass by up to 38 percent,” Rafif explained. Furthermore, innovation was also achieved by incorporating components made by the Anargya team themselves, including batteries assembled according to international regulations. These batteries have fire-resistant capabilities, making them safer in emergency situations. The team also equipped the car with an air-cooling system that flows through the side pods, thus increasing battery efficiency and durability. Additionally, the battery capacity was increased to 7.46 kilowatt-hours.

Rafif expressed his gratitude to ITS for its significant contributions to Anargya Team, enabling them to continue making an impact with this support. The material and moral assistance from ITS played a vital role in Anargya’s success during the past year of preparation. “In the future, Anargya will continue to strive to give its best for ITS,” he said optimistically.

Bengawan Formula Student Team from UNS Wins Champion at FSAE Japan 2023

Posted on by Editorial Team

The Bengawan Formula Student Team, representing Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), recently secured 3rd place in the Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) Award category at the annual FSAE Japan 2023 event. The competition, a spotlight for electric car enthusiasts and innovators, took place between 28 August and 2 September 2023. Organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc., the event saw participation from 77 teams across six nations: Japan, Thailand, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan.

FSAE Japan challenges participating teams to design and manufacture a formula race car. Tegar Aryoseno, the team leader and a student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, clarified the competition’s structure. According to him, the event was divided into static and dynamic segments. The static section focuses on business plans, cost and manufacturing reports, design presentations, and technical inspections. On the other hand, the dynamic events test the vehicles through acceleration, skid pad, autocross, endurance, and efficiency challenges.

An additional layer to this competition is the special award categories, with the CAE Awards being particularly notable. Designed to acknowledge teams that excel in using CAE technology for innovative and efficient designs, the CAE Awards stand as a testament to modern engineering’s prowess.

Aryoseno expressed profound joy and gratitude for the team’s victory, especially noting that the team had taken a three-year hiatus. “It’s a significant achievement for us. Even though we had a break for three years, we managed to stand out amongst 76 other teams from diverse universities and nations. The journey was demanding, yet, with unwavering support from UNS, our sponsors, and all associated parties, we emerged victorious,” he remarked.

Aryoseno further recognized the immense dedication and tireless effort of his team, which had been preparing for this competition throughout the past year. The team benefited from the expertise of their mentors: Professor Ubaidillah, Professor Agung Tri Wijayanta, and Professor Syamsul Hadi from the Faculty of Engineering.

The victory of the Bengawan Formula Student Team from UNS at the FSAE Japan 2023 reiterates the potential and brilliance of young engineers and offers a glimpse into the future of automotive innovation.

ITS Students Gain International Recognition Through Internship in a Japanese Company

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

Six students from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS Surabaya) are currently working as young engineers at the renowned shipyard company, Oshima Shipbuilding, one of Japan’s prestigious shipyard companies. The six ITS students are Jemima Audrey Natasha, Putra Nanda Kusuma, and Hans Dimitri from the Department of Naval Architecture, Hamzah Nur Azzam from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Galang Adi Saputro from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Agung Tuani Hartono Sihotang from the Department of Marine Engineering.

The head of the Department of Naval Architecture at ITS, Ir. Wasis Dwi Aryawan, M.Sc., Ph.D., explained that this internship program is a collaboration between the Department of Naval Architecture at ITS and the international company. Furthermore, Dr. Wasis mentioned that this program also offers opportunities to students from other departments. “This is in line with Oshima Shipbuilding’s request,” he stated. Therefore, a series of internal selections were conducted to identify the best-qualified students for this opportunity, led by Erzad Iskandar Putra, S.T., M.T., of the Student Advisory Team in the Department of Naval Architecture at ITS. Students from various departments competed for this opportunity through a selection process that included document screening and interviews with industry representatives, as Erzad explained.

Through this selection process, Erzad continued, six ITS students were ultimately chosen to participate in a one-month internship program in Japan. They departed on August 19, and by now, these six students have gained valuable knowledge and received positive evaluations from the company. “In fact, we have received news that they will be permanently employed there,” he exclaimed. During this internship program, the students have also received a salary and living allowances in Japan. Although they had to complete the internship for one month, they were also given the opportunity to attend their graduation ceremony at ITS in mid and late September.

In this regard, Dr. Wasis expressed his pride. According to him, this opportunity is proof that ITS graduates have internationally recognized competencies. Not only that, through this internship program, it is hoped that knowledge exchange can contribute to advancing the shipbuilding industry in Indonesia. In conclusion, Dr. Wasis hopes that this program will continue in the future. He believes that, in addition to the benefits mentioned above, this program can also enhance the branding of ITS and demonstrate that its graduates possess skills equivalent to those in other developed countries. Dr. Wasis also hopes that this program will not only focus on the shipbuilding industry but also extend to other industries.