UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga officially opened the International Student Mobility FED-AIR 2026 program, organized by the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD), on Tuesday,January 6, 2026. Held at Bayu Kirana Hall, Airlangga Convention Center, MERR-C Campus, the program brought together UNAIR students and international students from Federation University Australia in a cross-border academic collaboration.
Multidisciplinary collaboration across faculties
The opening ceremony was attended by university leaders, academics, and invited guests, including UNAIR Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development, Prof M Miftahussurur dr MKes SpPd KGEH PhD.. In his remarks, Prof. Miftahussurur emphasized that FED-AIR serves as a strategic platform to promote multidisciplinary learning and cross-faculty collaboration. “This program is not merely a student exchange, but a shared learning space that connects academic knowledge with real community challenges,” Prof. Miftahussurur said.
He also highlighted the active involvement of academic teams from UNAIR’s Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Vocational Studies, and Faculty of Nursing. According to him, cross-faculty participation is expected to enrich discussions, deepen intercultural dialogue, and strengthen experiential learning for all participants.
Prof. Miftahussurur further expressed appreciation for the long-standing partnership between UNAIR and Federation University Australia. “We believe the FED-AIR program plays a significant role in strengthening academic collaboration while fostering meaningful community engagement,” he said.
Entering the fourth year of sustainable collaboration
Meanwhile, Head of Public Health and Research Adviser at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Federation University Australia, Prof Muhammad Aziz Rahman, stated that 2026 marks the fourth year of the FED-AIR collaboration, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic.“This program was born amid limitations, yet it demonstrates the resilience of international collaboration,” Prof. Rahman said.
He added that student feedback over recent years has shown strong positive impacts, both academically and personally. “Students come with high motivation to learn, engage with communities, and carry these experiences into their professional journeys in Australia,” he explained.
Prof. Rahman also acknowledged the role of WUACD as a global network representing more than 40 institutions worldwide. He noted that continued support from UNAIR and WUACD has been crucial to ensuring the program’s sustainability, particularly after initial grant funding ended. “Without that support, this program would not have continued to this day,” he emphasized.
Through FED-AIR 2026, held from January 5–19, 2026, UNAIR and Federation University Australia reaffirm their shared commitment to building inclusive, sustainable, and globally relevant academic collaboration that addresses real cross-cultural community challenges.
Author: Panca Ezza Aisal Saputra
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
