UNAIR NEWS – To gain global reputation, Universitas Airlangga continues to make internationalization efforts. One of the efforts was made by Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE) through Airlangga Global Day (AGD) 2019.
Executive Director of AGE Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih M.Si., with UNAIR leadership officially opened AGD 2019 on Friday, November 8, 2019 in First floor hall, Management Office Campus C UNAIR. The opening was attended by United States Consul General in Surabaya Mark McGovern, Vice Rector I Prof. Djoko Santoso, dr., Ph.D., Sp.PD.K-GH.FINASIM., with deans from Faculty of Medicine (FK), Faculty of Dental Medicine (FKG); Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH); and the Faculty of Nursing (FKp).
Prof. Nyoman said that Airlangga Global Day (AGD) is an annual international program held by UNAIR since 2017. Aside from being a part of the commemoration of 65th Anniversary of UNAIR, this time the program is aimed at strengthening international collaboration.
“So, today, at 09.00, Airlangga Global Day 2019 has just officially opened. It (AGD 2019, ed) is a part of the commemoration of 65th anniversary of Universitas Airlangga and it began in 2017,” she said.
“So, this is the third year and as it is a global level, Airlangga Global Engagement is the one which managed it, ” she added.
In this 2019 AGD, Prof. Nyoman said there were some events that would also be held, such as International Education Exhibition, Education USA Opening Ceremony, Study Abroad Information Session, and several competitions for international students.
“This year, 2019, will be attended by 12 representatives of countries and foreign partners or university partners of Universitas Airlangga,” she said.
The partners, continued Prof. Nyoman, opened a booth to promote the education, especially universities to UNAIR students. So, if there is a global day abroad, UNAIR also does the same thing there.
“But this time, the foreign partners promote their universities here to UNAIR students who are interested in studying abroad,” she said.
There are some Asian, European and American countries participating in the 2019 AGD such as from Germany, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States of America (USA).
“With Airlangga Global Day, Education USA was also opened by US Consulate General for Indonesia in Surabaya. And the location is at the American Corner in UNAIR Campus B Library, ” she said.
“The objective (opening of Education USA) is to strengthen, of course, the collaboration of Universitas Airlangga with universities in America. And, in general, for the people of Surabaya, East Java and Indonesia. So they can access education information in America, ” she added.
For the international students at UNAIR, said Prof. Nyoman, AGD 2019 also held some interesting competitions, such as karaoke competition, cooking competition, and traditional Indonesian game competition.
“This is also an event to encourage internationalization and strengthen relations between international students and Indonesian students, especially Universitas Airlangga’s,” she stated.
Meanwhile, in his remarks, Mark conveyed the importance of international collaboration in efforts to improve education in each country. Together with Indonesia, the United States encourages collaborative efforts in various fields, especially education. One of its forms, America has opened American Corner in Campus B Library.
“I’d like to express my gratitude. And this collaboration will hopefully be stronger in the future and will have an impact on community development, “he said. (*) Author: Feri Fenoria Rifa’i
