UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to strengthen its global presence. Abdullah Abimanyu Harahap, a 2022 Political Science student from UNAIR’s Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), was named one of five Indonesian delegates to attend the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Summit. The summit took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from Monday (July 7) to Sunday (July 13, 2025).
Organized by the Global Shapers Community, the annual forum convenes over 500 young leaders from 150 countries. Held at the WEF Headquarters, it provides a platform for cross-sector discussions on key global challenges, including sustainability, digital innovation, and climate justice.
“I attended as a representative of the Surabaya Hub and was the only student from UNAIR at the summit. This wasn’t just symbolic—it was a meaningful example of Indonesian youth participating in global discourse,” said Harahap.
Youngest delegate
As the youngest participant among a cohort of professionals from around the world, Harahap showcased Green Hearts, a community-based initiative he co-founded with Global Shapers Surabaya. The program focuses on food waste management by partnering with small businesses, private schools, and local residents in Surabaya. It uses a simple digital platform for waste tracking and integrates environmental education.
“I introduced Green Hearts as a scalable local solution with the potential for global impact. The feedback was very encouraging—even some international organizations expressed interest in collaborating,” he said.
Harahap presented his initiative during the “Youth-led Climate Innovation” session, which highlighted the importance of youth leadership in creating action-oriented solutions. Beyond the presentation, he also shared successful practices from Indonesia and built connections with peers from other countries.
Support from UNAIR
Hararap’s involvement in the forum was supported by UNAIR through Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE), which provided a Letter of Guarantee (LoG) required for his visa application. To him, this support reflects UNAIR’s commitment to encouraging students to engage on a global level.
“UNAIR has proven that education goes beyond the classroom. The university prepares its students to take part in international arenas, aligned with the tridharma of higher education,” he said.
Harahap emphasized that the experience not only expanded his network but also strengthened the global diplomatic capacity of Indonesian youth. “I want Indonesian youth, especially UNAIR students, to be confident in stepping into strategic forums and making their voices heard. We should aim to be creators and contributors—not merely spectators,” he concluded.
Author: Samudra Pambudi Luhur
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
