UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to seize opportunities for collaboration with domestic and international universities to address current issues. For the latest collaboration, the Faculty of Public Health (FKM UNAIR) is collaborating with two prestigious Malaysian universities: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UITM).
In an exclusive interview with UNAIR NEWS, Dr. Ratna Dwi Puji Astuti SKM explained that the collaboration included series of events, such as an international colloquium, community service, and health education. The collaboration activities took place from May 6-9, 2024, and involved 36 students and lecturers.
“On the first day, we held an international colloquium and also signed an MoU with the School of Biological Sciences (SBS USM). This collaboration will focus on solving issues related to climate change, food security, public health, and other global issues,” Ratna explained on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Community service
This collaboration did not only focus on cooperation between the two universities, but also on community service. The community service took place at the Sekolah Tahfizh Pulau Penang, Anak Kesayangan Pulau Penang Orphan House, and Pusat Jagaan Damai Permai Pulau Penang.
“In this service, we provide education to children regarding dental and oral health and implementing clean and healthy living behaviors (PHBS). We hope that this education will train children to maintain their health for themselves and their environment,” she said.
Ratna added that the service also extends to Pusat Jagaan Damai Permai Pulau Penang. This service provides education and training for caregivers to maintain the health of the elderly. She emphasized that being a caregiver is not easy, thus the need for education and training.
“We also conducted a beach clean-up activity at Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Penang. We participated in cleaning the beach area with local students and lecturers from USM and UITM,” she exclaimed.
Intercultural Night
The collaboration also provided an opportunity for cultural exchange. UNAIR students introduced traditional Indonesian clothing, kebaya, to the local community. According to Ratna, this is a strategic step to strengthen the relationship between UNAIR, UITM, and USM.
Ratna hoped that the collaboration with these two well-known Malaysian universities would be well-established and foster innovation and new solutions to address global issues in the future.
“I also hope that the Faculty of Public Health students gain international exposure. It’s not just about gaining experience but also about being useful after their studies to engage in other prominent collaborations,” she concluded.
Author: Satrio Dwi Naryo
Editor: Feri Fenoria
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