UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to strengthen its international partnerships through a Strategic Meeting with the Australian Consulate General in Surabaya. The Australian delegation was represented by Mr. Glen Askew, Consul General of Surabaya, and Han Xiao Zhang, Counselor for Education and Research at the Department of Education in Jakarta.
On behalf of UNAIR, attendees included Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih, M.Si, Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development; Prof. Muhammad Miftahussurur, dr., M.Kes., Sp.PD-KGEH, Ph.D., Vice Rector for Internationalization, Digitalization, and Information; and Prof. Iman Harymawan, Ph.D., Director of Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE).
The meeting, held on Friday, February 14, 2025, in the Banten Room, 4th Floor, ASEEC Tower, Campus B, UNAIR, provided a strategic platform to explore new avenues for educational cooperation between Indonesia and Australia.
Strengthening international collaboration
Prof. Iman Harymawan, in his opening remarks, highlighted ongoing discussions between UNAIR and the Australian Consulate General to expand and enhance their collaboration. A key initiative in progress is the Western Australia East Java University Consortium (WAEJUC) Research Meeting 2025.
“We are excited to host the International Enrichment Program, WAEJUC 2025, at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. This event is set to take place from April 27 to May 1, 2025,” stated Prof. Harymawan.
Australia’s commitment to advancing education
The Consul General, Mr. Glen Askew, commended UNAIR for hosting the Strategic Meeting, emphasizing its importance in strengthening educational ties between Indonesia and Australia.
“We deeply appreciate UNAIR’s efforts in organizing this event. It serves as a crucial step in fostering deeper educational collaboration between our nations,” he said.
He also underscored the significance of scholarship and double-degree programs in facilitating Indonesian students’ academic pursuits in Australia. Additionally, he expressed enthusiasm for further collaboration through various new initiatives.
“We hope to introduce more activities, such as speech competitions and joint programs similar to those at Aussie Banget Corner UNAIR, which will further enhance Indonesia-Australia relations,” he added.
New Colombo Plan 2025
A key agenda item during the meeting was the presentation of the New Colombo Plan 2025 proposal by Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih. This initiative aims to deepen Indonesia-Australia educational partnerships and promote student mobility through programs such as the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) and other exchange opportunities.
“We have many UNAIR alumni who have studied in Australia through double-degree programs and scholarships. We hope this initiative will not only facilitate knowledge transfer but also encourage meaningful cultural exchange,” Prof. Puspaningsih explained.
She further noted the valuable insights Australian students gain from studying public health challenges in Indonesia, such as stunting and malaria. Moreover, UNAIR is actively working on a collaboration proposal with Griffith University and developing community outreach and research programs on food security in partnership with other top Indonesian universities.
“Our goal is to establish strong inter-university collaborations through consortiums to sustain and expand these initiatives,” she concluded.
Author: Adinda Aulia Pratiwi
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
