Tag: Universitas Airlangga

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.

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to give opportunities for its students to study abroad. One of the faculties, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) has sent 24 of its students to Universiti Malaya (UM) in a Part-Time Outbound Program 2023 with the UM Islamic Studies Academy.

The 24 delegates are Salwa Tasya, Liha Ulima, Keyla Humaira, Nabilla Fika, Arving Lailatul Fajri, Alif Fahril Aziz, Nuria Latifah, Fitri Makrifatul, Ulfiana Nanda, Nabila Yona, Jesyca, Sintya Alfafa, Diana Clarisa, Nisaa Sadiya, Rafasya Syauqila, Zanuba Firstya, Keysha Mutiara Azzahara, Nisrina Amani Taufik, Afra Bahita Fridajaya, Syanaya Ramadhani Rahmana, Diva Azzahra Pratiwi, Soni Nuriyana Mayangkari, Dhiya Basith Fauzian and Yashafi Yan Arsala.

Sintya Alfafa, FEB student and the person in charge, shared her experiences at UM. She and other delegates had the opportunity to deliver presentations in the presence of UM lecturers.

“This essay is a selection stage from the faculty before leaving for UM. Later, the best essays can be presented at UM,” explained Fafa.

Cultural Exchange

The FEB student said that she not only had the opportunity to study in the neighboring country but also gained experience exchanging culture with local students at UM.

“One of the most impressive series of activities was doing typical Malaysian batik crafts. This is a new experience and knowledge because so far, the only batik we know is Indonesian batik,” she said.

The famous university in Malaysia has the Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden. According to her, the delegates gained new knowledge about the flora and fauna in the Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden, which is well-preserved at UM.

“What an unforgettable experience at UM. We learn many things outside campus. The local students were especially welcoming to international students,” said Fafa.

Learn Malaysian history

Fafa also learned the local history of Malaysia. They visited the Museum of Asian Arts. Fafa was introduced to the rare museum collections there.

One of them is a Thai elephant statue from the 14th-15th century AD, and there were also stone carvings, copper items, and Malay weaponry from ancient times. These historical objects are a message to students and local communities in Malaysia to love the country and the legacy of our ancestors.

“We were also given information about Malay history before independence, and the long story, it is still connected to Indonesian history, which we have known for a long time,” said Fafa.

Fafa expressed her gratitude to FEB UNAIR for supporting and assisting the program. “Hopefully, FEB UNAIR can expand its collaboration network with other well-known universities in Asia in the future so that students’ knowledge and insight will also increase,” she hoped.

In supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), universities contribute to preparing community development programs. Institutions play a role in fostering broad cooperation in line with SDGs point 17, “Partnership for the goals”.

It aligns with the mission of Universitas Airlangga’s World University Association for Community Development (WUACD). The WUACD is a platform for integrated collaboration among universities worldwide. The platform aims to discuss strategic partnerships among member universities to foster international cooperation related to the three pillars (tri dharma) in higher education, exchange data, and evaluate the implementation of SDGs at UNAIR and universities worldwide.

This year, UNAIR hosted the WUACD Summit 2023 at the El Hotel Banyuwangi on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. The event hosted delegations from 26 institutions worldwide. This year, the theme revolves around SDG point 14 Life Below Water, collaborating with the East Java Provincial Government. Preserving the aquatic environment is key to building a better ecological environment.

University collaboration

Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development, Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih MSi, hopes that the association will allow members to collaborate on community development programs and community service across various countries. She believed that it would have a bigger impact.

“This consortium can serve as a platform to strengthen collaboration among universities worldwide,” she said.

She hoped that the discussion would generate awareness and concern for community development programs in Indonesia and around the world. “Thank you so much to all members for your dedication and contributions. May we continue to make a real impact,” she said.

She believed that the goals and commitments from all parties would bring about positive impacts in sustainable community development.

Discussing WUACD programs in 2024

Dr. Niko Azhari Hidayat, Sp.BTKV(K) stated that some SDG programs for 2024 were also discussed. The programs vary in the fields of economics, education, community development, and health. The programs will be handled by the new coordinators of WUACD, Dr. Rahmat Yuliawan SE MM AWP CHRM and Prof Ira Nurmala SKM MPH PhD from Universitas Airlangga, and Associate Prof Dr. Mohd Roslan Rosnon from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

The commitments will be realized in several programs, such as the summer program, international conference, Airlangga Grant and Matching Fund on Community Development, and WUACD International Community Development. “They will submit activity proposals. We will also map out which universities will implement these programs,” he said.

He hoped that UNAIR would continuously be an initiator to generate, direct, and lead the university members to achieve SDGs. “We would like to show the world that UNAIR excels in community development and brings positive impacts at the global scale,” he said.

During the agenda, the signing of memorandums of understanding with new members was also held. Among them are Griffith University, Allama Iqbal Open University, and the University of The Punjab.

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.