UNAIR NEWS – Rapid technological changes and increasingly complex societal needs demand that higher education institutions deliver innovations capable of addressing real-world problems. This spirit led the Faculty of Vocational Studies (FV) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) to organize the International Conference on Vocational Innovation and Applied Sciences (ICVIAS) 2026 on Thursday (October 15, 2026) at the Majapahit Hall, ASEEC Tower, Dharmawangsa-B Campus, UNAIR.
This international conference brought together academics, researchers, and participants from various countries to expand knowledge exchange and open up opportunities for research collaboration. Through this forum, UNAIR FV encourages vocational higher education institutions to produce scientific works and innovations relevant to the needs of industry and society.
Encouraging demand-driven vocational education
The UNAIR Director of Academic Affairs, Dr Maftuchah Rochmanti dr MKes, emphasized the importance of inter-campus collaboration in developing research and expanding knowledge. She believes that the conference served as an opportunity for lecturers and students to exchange ideas, build networks, and develop innovation together.
“The advancement of automation and digitalization is reshaping the needs of the workforce and public life. Therefore, vocational education needs to go beyond work-readiness-oriented learning. Higher education institutions must equip its students with the ability to apply knowledge and understand real-world challenges in the field” Dr Rochmanti said.
ICVIAS 2026 featured approximately 70 papers and 45 posters from participants across countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. This gathering opens up opportunities for researchers to compare best practices in addressing similar problems and explore the potential application of research findings in different contexts.
The close alignment between learning and practical application is one of the greatest strengths of vocational education. Through applied research, students and lecturers can connect their academic knowledge with real-world needs, ranging from industrial requirements to social challenges in society.
Gather research, publication, and applied innovation
The Dean of the Faculty of Vocational Studies, Prof Dian Yulie Reindrawati SSos M M PhD, explained that ICVIAS become the faculty’s annual agenda that continuously improves. This year, the committee presented workshops to strengthen the participants’s capabilities in developing research and producing beneficial outcomes.
“One of the sessions featured editors from Scopus-indexed journals to share insights on scientific publication, including strategies for preparing papers and improving research quality. The participants also had the opportunity to engage in direct discussions and glean tips from the editors,” said Prof Reindrawati.
Other than publication, this conference featured a patent workshop. This session encouraged participants to understand steps to develop research findings into a product and innovation that address the needs of industry and society.
“ICVIAS is expected to continue to strengthen collaboration and broaden networks between participants. Through the exchange of ideas and the development of applied research, this conference can enrich cross-national scientific literature and deliver tangible impacts for society,” she concluded.
Author: Maia Chaerunnisa
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
