Tag: Universitas Airlangga

In collaboration with the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) through the Airlangga Institute of Indian Ocean Crossroads (AIIOC) is hosting the 13th International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS).

Scheduled from July 28, 2024, to August 1, 2024. UNAIR is making various preparations for this event. Lina Puryanti PhD, Director of AIIOC, mentioned that it will be the first time Indonesia hosts this international event. “ICAS is a major event, and Indonesia has no prior experience in hosting this international activity. This is a breakthrough,” she said.

Puryanti also explained that preparations have currently reached 60 percent. Representatives from 66 countries are expected to attend the event, with the potential for even greater participation as the event draws near. “So far, there will be 1400 participants attending but the number can still increase. We are still opening up opportunities for more participants to join,” she explained on Friday, May 24, 2024.

Conference festival concept

Unlike typical conference events, the 13th ICAS will feature a conference festival concept. The event will extend beyond campus. Participants will have the opportunity to visit historical sites in Surabaya, including the urban communities of Plampitan, Tambak Bayan, and Peneleh.

“This event is not merely a meeting among academics, but also academics and practitioners, even academics can become artists who display their work,” Puryanti stated.

Participants will focus on ten different topics. Puryanti hopes that the participants can learn from each other and share experiences. She also hopes that the knowledge gained by the participants will serve as a foundation for understanding the world. “So, what we have in Surabaya can become a basis for understanding the world,” she said.

Involving community participation

The event will not only involve academics and students but also the local communities. During the festival, there will be several exhibitions held in public areas close to the communities.

“We are organizing the festival to take place in public areas. The local communities will not be spectators but also organizers and parts of this event. UNAIR and the communities will welcome guests from around the world,” she explained.

Puryanti stated that this opportunity is beneficial for both UNAIR and Indonesia. “This is a great opportunity for UNAIR to strengthen its position on the global stage. Indonesia’s vast potential will also be highlighted at this event,” she said.

Puryanti and her team are optimistic that with the support of various parties, the 13th ICAS will run smoothly. “Being entrusted with an event of this magnitude is an honor. We are optimistic that the event will be a success. Hopefully, this event will bring pride to UNAIR and the nation,” she concluded. Held this year, the 13th ICAS is also a gift for UNAIR’s 70th Anniversary.

A remarkable achievement made by a young researcher Muhammad Ikhlas Abdjan, a doctoral student at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR). Ikhlas has made his mark on the international stage by receiving the best paper award from a well-known journal “Engineered Science” at the International Conference on Innovative Discoveries and Advancements in Applied Sciences iDEAAS 2024 at Mahsa University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Appreciation was given for his research in discovering medicinal compounds to prevent the growth of cancer cells.

His research has been selected as one of the papers out of hundreds of researchers worldwide. Ikhlas was the only student participating in the event. The participants were mostly senior researchers and professors.

Furthermore, the research supervised by Prof Dr Nanik Siti Aminah M Si and Prof Dr Alfinda Novi Kristanti DEA added this to its list of achievements. Previously, it has been included in popular chemistry in 2022, and hot article collections in 2021 by a well-known publisher Royal Society of Chemistry.

Compound discovery

His research entitled “Pharmacokinetic, DFT Modeling, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation Approaches: Diptoindonesin A as a Potential Inhibitor of Sirtuin-1” has caught the world’s attention because it is a new finding of a compound called Diptoindonesin A which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

“This compound was discovered by my mentor, Prof. Nanik Siti Aminah. However, it has never been tested on the sirtuin-1 enzyme. Therefore, I continued this research to find innovations to inhibit cancer cell growth by testing Diptoindonesin A with the sirtuin-1 enzyme,” he said.

The Diptoindonesin A compound can be found in the Shorea seminis plant which grows on the island of Kalimantan. Sirtuin-1 is one of the sirtuin enzyme classes that causes cancer. Ikhlas admitted that the research focused on sirtuin-1 because almost all types of cancer have activity from this enzyme.

“This research focuses on sirtuin-1 because this enzyme is major and its activity can be seen in most types of cancer such as cervical, breast, prostate and so on. Sirtuin-1 regulates cancer cells so that they continue to grow uncontrollably,” he said.

Ikhlas also added that previously he had carried out calculation simulation trials in the laboratory. From several enzyme compounds tested using computational calculation methods at the molecular level, Diptoindonesin A showed good inhibitory effects on sirtuin-1. The research used computational studies. It includes pharmacokinetic methods, DFT modelling, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation.

Pharmacokinetic study predicts drug candidate criteria for the two compounds, diptoindonesin A and viniferin. It is also used to predict ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity). Based on ADMET, Diptoindonesin A can be absorbed into the small intestine. And, based on the distribution of BBB permeability, it does not directly affect brain cells. This compound also does not affect the body’s metabolic system.

DFT Modeling is used to describe the properties of compounds at the molecular to atomistic level. The goal is to know whether this molecule is stable, or whether it is reactive. From all property calculations, Diptoindonesin A and viniferin are stable. In that description, the structure between Diptoindonesin A and viniferin is the same. However, the differentiating factor is the presence of a glucose unit in the molecular structure of Diptoindonesin A.

“Even though the structure is the same, the glucose content in Diptoindonesin A influences the activity of the sirtuin-1 enzyme. Diptoindonesin A will interact with 21 amino acid residues in the sirtuin-1 enzyme which can inhibit the growth of cancer cells,” said Ikhlas.

Molecular docking is a method for studying drug and enzyme interactions at the molecular level. Docking is used to search for initial coordinates and molecular dynamics simulations comprehensively evaluate the overall stabilization of drug molecular bonds and interactions. The test showed good interaction stabilization of Diptoindonesin A with sirtuin 1 during the simulation.

Based on several testing methods, Diptoindonesin A is worthy of consideration as a cancer cell growth inhibitor drug. However, the drawback of this compound is that it is difficult to obtain because it is isolated from plants. To address this issue, further studies are expected to be conducted.

International collaboration

The discovery and research took almost a year. Ikhlas admitted to encountering obstacles related to research and laboratory facilities. To help with his research, Ikhlas even conducted research in two countries the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences Pakistan and Chulalongkorn University Thailand. The collaboration was vital in conducting his research. To develop his research, Ikhlas collaborates with the University of Malaya, Malaysia, regarding drug encapsulation in isolated compounds through computational and experimental approaches as anticancer agents.

“I hope this research can be sustainable, excellent research is research that never stops. It is always sustainable, focused on one field and developed continuously,” he concluded.

Three Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) alumni who developed the Markas Walet (lit: Swallow Headquarter) business, M Fairuzzuddin Zuhair CEO of Lentera Alam Nusantara or Markas Walet and two co-founders Maulana Satria Aji and M Taufiqul Yakin won an international business pitch competition. They achieved a proud feat as the best presenter in a pitching competition at the National University of Singapore (NUS) last March.

Fairuz, representing the team, explained that Markas Walet is a company engaged in manufacturing and agro-technology. Specifically, in the swallow’s nest ecosystem. “We are engaged in manufacturing and agrotechnology, especially in the swallow nest ecosystem. We manage the swallow nest so that it can be more optimal in terms of quality and quantity,” M Fairuzzuddin Zuhair told UNAIR NEWS on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Furthermore, Fairuz also explained that the Markas Walet business is a “huge opportunity” as research on swallow cultivation is quite limited, so there is no specific guide to optimize the management of the swallow nest ecosystem. “So far, they mostly base it on myths like others’ statements. In fact, to improve the quantity, it should not only be based on mythical aspects, but also scientific aspects,” he explained.

Fairuz said that the huge market opportunity was the team’s strong reason for developing the Markas Walet business. In his opinion, there is a great need to develop education in swallow nest ecosystem management. Furthermore, based on agricultural data, there are hundreds of thousands of swallow nest in Indonesia, but only about three thousand can be accounted for. “So we need to improve the registration of the swallow nests so that the export quota approved by the destination country can be higher,” he added.

In developing the business, Fairuz and his team also integrated artificial intelligence into the swallow nest management system. This makes the company the only swallow nest management company developed in Indonesia. Fairuz and his team also saw that the market size of swallow nests is relatively large. “So the market is very big, and the demand is increasing by about 10-15 percent every year,” he said.

In terms of target market, the company plans to enter the Chinese market. Another effort he has made in managing his own company, Markas Walet, is to unite the views and contributions of each founder and focus on this business opportunity.

“Maybe for the BPBRIN Incubator start-up team, we need to look and capture with our helicopter view, we don’t need to look at the short term of our business journey. With a helicopter view, we can assess the extent of our business potential. We can anticipate this by actively playing, participating and expanding our knowledge on the national and international stage,” he concluded.

For the record, Fairuz has also won the LPDP Business Growth Plan 2023 event. As a result of this achievement, Fairuz had the opportunity to attend a short course in Singapore, and this pitching competition was the main event of the course.

Universitas Airlangga has achieved another commendable milestone. Three study programs from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at UNAIR have officially attained international recognition. The Sociology, Political Science, and Anthropology programs have gained international accreditation by FIBAA.

FIBAA, Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation, is an international accreditation body that ensures the quality of education according to the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) criteria. FIBAA has globally recognized assessment standards, making it prestigious.

Accreditation process

The accreditation journey with FIBAA for these three programs has been quite extensive. Numerous stages and adjustments were carried out by the teams at FISIP UNAIR. Collaboration has involved all academics in the programs, including students and alumni.

Kalimah Wasis, S.IP., M.Sc., the FIBAA Accreditation Manager for the Political Science study program, explained efforts were made to conduct a workload study survey among students to ensure FIBAA standards are met. It is aimed to measure the students’ study loads.

Furthermore, a tracer study of alumni experiences during their studies was conducted, along with surveys involving stakeholders and alumni who are now employed.

“Students were involved in the preparation for FIBAA accreditation. Student assessments are crucial in this accreditation,” she explained.

After submitting curriculum documents, Semester Learning Plan (RPS) documents, Self Evaluation Report (SER), appendices, and other supporting documents, the next stage involved the three departments undergoing accreditation visits by FIBAA assessors and report evaluations.

Commitment to quality

One of the lecturers in the Department of Sociology, Ratna Azis Prasetyo, S.Sos., M.Sosio, explained that the main supporting factor for the success of FIBAA accreditation is the collective determination and commitment to improvement. Commitment to educational quality through national and international accreditation is crucial.

“So far, the Sociology national accreditation has been excellent, supplemented by previous accreditation by the international Accreditation Service for International Schools (ASIC). With FIBAA’s accreditation, it will undoubtedly strengthen the study program’s position both nationally and internationally,” she elaborated.

On the other hand, the Head of the Anthropology Department, Pudjio Santoso, Drs., M.Sosio, is highly optimistic that this FIBAA accreditation will give a positive impression. “The Anthropology program at FISIP UNAIR is the only anthropology study program in Indonesia specializing in socio-cultural and physical anthropology. That’s what impresses them (the FIBAA assessors),” he stated.

With this achievement, the three study programs remain committed to enhancing quality and welcome feedback from various stakeholders, including students and alumni.

The study program managements extend gratitude to all those who have assisted in the accreditation process. Without such assistance, the international accreditation process would not have proceeded smoothly.

Universitas Airlangga has partnered with another international university to expand its collaboration network. Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan on Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Bali Room, ASEEC Tower, Dharmawangsa B Campus, UNAIR. The MoA focuses on future collaborations, including joint classes, student exchanges, and community development initiatives, particularly for the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) and the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline (FTMM).

The signing ceremony was attended by the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, Prof. Wu-Yuin Hwang Ph.D., along with his team; the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), Prof. Miratul Khasanah M.Si., and her team; the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline (FTMM), Prof. Dr. Retna Apsari M.Si., and her team; as well as the Vice Director of Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE), Dr. Dina Septiani Ph.D.

“I am aware of the exceptional quality of Universitas Airlangga’s medical school. Also the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidiscipline, which is new. I am delighted to explore opportunities for further collaboration as the prospects are indeed vast,” said Prof. Hwang.

Invitation for student exchange

Prof. Dr. Retna hoped that these discussions would pave the way for collaborations in community service, joint classes, and collaborative research endeavors. “We have five study programs: Data Science Technology, Nanotechnology Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, as well as Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Engineering. We envision potential collaborations, starting from joint classes, joint research, and community service that we can discuss further in the future,” she said.

“The joint classes facilitated by Airlangga Global Engagement are still open for consideration. If there is interest, further discussions can be arranged,” she added.

Prof. Hwang also agreed on student exchange between both universities. Moreover, CSAE already has an international program, so exchange students do not need to learn Mandarin beforehand.

“Currently, 39 Indonesian students are studying at CSAE, and regarding expenses, there is no need to worry. Because we provide scholarships, especially for excellent students,” he emphasized.

Co-supervising opportunity

The meeting also resulted in a discussion on the realization of student co-supervising between the two universities. “Considering our mutual research interests, we aspire to embark on co-supervision initiatives, especially in areas where our research intersects. Perhaps lecturers from CSAE could visit Indonesia, or our students could go to Taiwan,” concluded Prof. Dr. Retna.

The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UNAIR hosted a student visit from Phillips-Marburg Universität, Germany, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. The event, held in the Adi Sukadana Hall, was titled “International Visit & Cultural Discussion from Phillips-Marburg Universität”.

Phillips-Marburg Universität sent 33 of its students to learn about Javanese cultures in Surabaya. The agenda was also attended by the Student Executive Board (BEM) of FISIP UNAIR, aiming to build a global network with foreign students.

The event served as a platform to acquaint the visitors with Surabaya’s culture and wisdom, with a special emphasis on showcasing local traditions, particularly the Javanese script or Hanacaraka. It provided the German students with an opportunity to delve into the cultural ethos of Java.

Dhahana Adi, Cultural Program Assistant at Wisma Jerman delivered a welcoming speech. “This visit marks the first encounter at FISIP as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FISIP UNAIR and the University of Marburg. Surabaya Cultural Odyssey serves as a platform for foreign students to learn about Surabaya’s culture and wisdom. I hope for more collaborations in the future, especially with the Goethe Institute,” he said.

The students visited the Ethnographic Museum and the Center of Death Studies at FISIP UNAIR. The next agenda was elaborated by International Relations lecturer Probo Darono Yakti, S.Hub.Int., M.Hub.Int.

“The visit will take place in Surabaya, we will engage with the local communities and learn traditional arts,” he said.

The German students are introduced to various cultures in East Java, ranging from Reog, pencak silat, “Rek Ayo Rek” song, to wayang. The excitement continues as the students dance together to “Gemu Fa Mi Re” and “Kewer-Kewer”. Furthermore, they also played traditional games with other FISIP students.

For the following activities, a tour of Surabaya to introduce the city to the German students, followed by cultural practices at the Balai Pemuda has been scheduled. The German students eagerly embraced the opportunity to interact with their peers from FISIP UNAIR. They are eager to learn about the local culture during their stay in Surabaya.

Universitas Airlangga has engaged in numerous collaborations to boost the internationalization of academic activities within the campus environment. In its latest endeavor, UNAIR signed an MoU to collaborate with Princess Naradhiwas University, Thailand on Tuesday, Feb 20, 2024, in the Plenary Meeting Room, Balairua Management Office, MERR C Campus, Universitas Airlangga.

The Rector of Universitas Airlangga, Prof Dr. Mohammad Nasih SE MT Ak, and the vice-rectors and deans attended the proceeding. Asst Prof Dr. Preecha Salaemae, President of Princess Naradhiwas University, along with representatives and students engaged in student exchange programs at UNAIR, were also present.

Global education endeavor

In his address, Prof Nasih conveyed UNAIR’s aspiration to foster international cooperation. The international collaborations will offer new opportunities and insights for the universities and academic communities involved.

“International cooperation of this nature is a testament to our (UNAIR) commitment to realizing global education. Besides collaborating in academic fields such as student exchanges or research publications, we also aim to create programs such as community development,” stated Prof Nasih.

Furthermore, Prof Nasih expressed gratitude to Princess Naradhiwas University for their willingness to collaborate with the Universitas Airlangga. “As we embark on this collaboration, we are hopeful that it will yield significant benefits for both institutions. We aspire to see the agreements outlined in the MoU effectively realized,” Prof Nasih stated.

Future prospects

Asst Prof Dr. Preecha Salaemae, President of Princess Naradhiwas University, also extended his gratitude to UNAIR. “We feel honored to have been invited to Surabaya. It marks a promising beginning for academic collaboration, and we hope to effectively implement the agreements outlined in this MoU,” Prof Preecha replied.

A representative from Airlangga Global Engagement, Dina Septiani PhD, then outlined the collaborative opportunities that could be realized by UNAIR and Princess Naradhiwas University. These opportunities include student and faculty exchanges, research collaboration, and joint publications.

“In 2022, UNAIR also visited Princess Naradhiwas University and engaged in student exchanges several times, one of which involved the Faculty of Nursing. Therefore, I believe this collaboration will proceed smoothly in the future,” concluded Dina.