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.