WUACD COMSTECH collaboration addresses SDGs

The Rector of Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Prof. Dr. Muhammad Madyan, SE, MSi, MFin, welcomed a delegation from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (OIC–COMSTECH) on Tuesday (December 16, 2025). The visit followed a strategic meeting between the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD) and COMSTECH held the previous day. As President of WUACD, Prof. Madyan conveyed his deep appreciation to H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary Mustafa, Coordinator General of OIC–COMSTECH, for his continued engagement and collaboration.

“Allow me to extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Professor Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of the OIC COMSTECH, to Universitas Airlangga. Your presence today is a great honor for us, and a strong reflection of the close and growing partnership between OIC – COMSTECH, WUACD, and Universitas Airlangga.,” the Rector said.

The meeting was attended by Associate Professor Dr. Humeraa Jahan, Secretary of OIC–COMSTECH; Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development and WUACD Chairperson, Prof. dr. Muhammad Miftahussurur, MKes, SpPD-KGEH, PhD; Vice Rector for the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Business Development, Prof. Dr. Koko Srimulyo, Drs., MSi; WUACD Executive Secretary, Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih, MSi; Director of Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE), Irfan Wahyudi, SSos, MComm, PhD; Secretary of the Institute for Sustainable Community Service (LPMB), Dr. Nurina Fitriani, ST; along with several faculty representatives.

Discussions centered on expanding collaboration among COMSTECH, WUACD, and Universitas Airlangga, particularly in faculty and student exchanges, joint research initiatives, capacity development, community engagement, and sustainability-focused programs. During the meeting, H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary Mustafa, together with Prof. Miftahussurur and Prof. Puspaningsih, briefed the Rector on key outcomes of the strategic meeting held a day earlier. Student mobility emerged as one of the main proposals.

“I’d suggest that ten students from Universitas Airlangga visit Pakistan, including five who are active bloggers. All expenses will be fully covered. write about universities in Pakistan and participate in workshops there. They will represent Universitas Airlangga and introduce UNAIR through videos and presentations to Pakistani students. This initiative will be the first of its kind,” Prof. Mustafa said.

In a separate interview with LPMB UNAIR Secretary Dr. Nurina Fitriani, ST, H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary Mustafa underscored the urgency of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), warning that many countries are unlikely to meet their targets by 2030. “There are two important things. First, achieving the SDGs depends heavily on science and technology, whether in clean energy, healthcare, universal education, or food security. Every country has to understand that in orderto achieve SDGs, they need to deploy science and technology,” Prof. Mustafa said.

“Second, there are many areas in which countries can work together. So international collaboration is important. Some countries have made significant progress toward the SDGs, while many others have not. As humans living in this planet, it is important for us to develop together. Without collaboration, progress will be impossible. International cooperation is critical for global peace, security, and for achieveing the SDGs,” he added.

Prof. Mustafa also highlighted ongoing efforts by OIC–COMSTECH in partnership with WUACD and Universitas Airlangga, noting that these collaborations are expected to produce concrete programs aligned with the SDGs. Planned initiatives are in disaster management, education, herbal medicine, and issues related to water scarcity.

“Everything depends on water, and water is a very interdisciplinary field. It is not only related to science, engineering, and technology, but also to social behavior and psychology, how communities perceive water as a resource and avoid wasting it, how we consume water responsibly, and how we recycle and manage it. We have discussed the possibility of building a team of experts from various disciplines to support the management of this vital resource,” explained the COMSTECH leader.

Concluding the interview, Prof. Mustafa praised the openness and commitment demonstrated by UNAIR’s leadership in supporting member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. “I consider Universitas Airlangga as a focused center for development many OIC countries. We have discussed the possibility of student exchanges, joint research, joint workshops and training programs, and joint projects, and honorable rector of this university was completely in agreement in all of these,” he said.

OIC–COMSTECH and WUACD share a common vision to advance inclusive and impactful higher education. This collaboration actively reflects both institutions’ commitment to capacity building and sustainable development through higher education. The partnership with OIC–COMSTECH also underscores the strong commitment of Universitas Airlangga and WUACD to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.