UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to improve its reputation and recognition worldwide. Recently, UNAIR team, through Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE) has visited London, England. On Saturday-Thursday, December 4-9, 2021, AGE UNAIR visited the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) to the United Kingdom (UK) in London and six universities in England. The universities visited were University of Strathclyde, University of Glasgow, University of Nottingham, University of Loughborough, University of Sussex, and University of Leicester.
Iman Harymawan, Ph.D, as the Head of AGE said the visit had four main objectives: collaborating with the British Embassy, expanding UNAIR networking in the international arena, evaluating the activities of the Indonesian International Student Mobility Award (IISMA), and planning for UNAIR’s involvement in UKICIS.
Collaboration and launching of IKA UNAIR Chapter UK
On the first day of the visit, AGE UNAIR was welcomed directly by the British Embassy. Iman explained that the meeting aimed to connect UNAIR with diaspora friends in England.
“KBRI has data on who and what activities Indonesian academics are doing in the UK. Thus, we hope that this meeting can be a door for collaborating with the diaspora there,” he explained.
Furthermore, together with several UNAIR alumni who are working and continuing their studies in England, AGE planned to launch the UK chapter of UNAIR Alumni Association (IKA UNAIR).
“Hopefully, IKA UNAIR can be officially established in January,” he hoped.
Expanding network with six universities in the United Kingdom
During the visit to six universities in the UK, AGE agreed on several collaborative programs. First, UNAIR and those six universities will support activities related to student mobility.
“They are already open to holding visiting mobility. Thus, UNAIR academics can apply for positions related to outbound activities organized by these universities,” he explained.
AGE also exchanged information related to their scientists. Hopefully, UNAIR researchers could collaborate with researchers from the six universities.
Getting involved in UKICIS
Iman said that one of the important points made by AGE during their visit to the University of Nottingham was to have a discussion regarding the plan to include UNAIR in UKICIS. UKICIS is a consortium of Indonesian-British diaspora scientists and universities.
“Hopefully, all these plans can be achieved, and UNAIR can join UKICIS next year,” he concluded. (*)