UNAIR NEWS – As one of the best universities in Indonesia, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) always strives to make global contribution. This time, UNAIR hosted the 2019 International Summit of World University Association for Community Development (WUACD).
The opening ceremony of WUACD activity was held on Friday, November 29, 2019. As the end of the year, WUACD has 20 members from 9 different countries.
Being held in Amerta Hall, 4th Floor Management Office Campus C UNAIR, the activity was attended by Secretary of WUACD Dr. Pratiwi Soesilawati, drg., M. Kes., PA (K). According to her, WUACD is a union of world universities established by UNAIR.
“This association was established with the aim of mobilizing several universities to work together to carry out community service not only in Indonesia, but in various countries in the world,” she added.
Dr. Pratiwi also said that this summit was actually focused more on cooperation talks with various universities. The aim is to regulate the student and staff mobility who will carry out service activities both in Indonesia and abroad.
“The WUACD agenda include arrangements for community service activities carried out by students and staff from abroad as well as UNAIR students and staff at foreign universities,” she explained.
Meanwhile, UNAIR Rector Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, SE., MT., Ak., CMA also attended the activity. In his remarks, Prof. Nasih said that UNAIR must continue to expand its global contribution as one of Indonesia’s best universities.
“We believe that universities can support the achievement of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals, ed),” he stated.
According to him, UNAIR initiated the formation of world university association for community development. There are many issues we need to address, such as, climate change, natural disasters, income inequality, poverty, religious conflict, accountability, corruption, food and water security, lack of education, safety, security and welfare.
“These social problems must be immediately solved. So it can be useful to improve human welfare and education in forming community development association, “he said.
Some of the universities attending the forum were University of Malaya, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Temasek Polytechnic, Royal University of Law and Economics, Asia University, and Daffodil International University. As a strategic orientation for the association, WUACD was designed with a vision to become the leading community development association in the world.
“Hopefully in the future, this kind of collaboration can be strengthened and have a significant impact on the world community, primarily to solve problems in each country,” he concluded. (*)
Author: Sandi Prabowo
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
