UNAIR NEWS – Responding to Independent Campus: Freedom to Learn from the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemdikbud), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to expand its collaboration with various partners. The latest collaboration is with Syiah Kuala University.
The collaboration between the two was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) via Zoom on Tuesday, October 6, 2020. This collaboration is about the Tri Darma of Higher Education, including education, research, and community service.
Regarding the collaboration, Universitas Airlangga Rector Prof. Moh Nasih revealed that this MoU was a mere legal ceremony because, informally, the collaboration between UNAIR and Unsyiah has been carried out for a long time.
Prof. Nasih continued, during the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the collaborations that will be maximized is a program that supports the Independent Campus: Freedom to Learn. “In the future, collaboration between state universities (PTN) cannot be ruled out, it becomes a basic requirement. State universities cannot rely solely on their internal strength, “said the Rector.
Through this collaboration, UNAIR lecturers can teach at Unsyiah, and vice versa. Also, UNAIR students can take part in programs or take certain courses at Unsyiah, and vice versa.
Apart from education, the collaboration can also be done for community service and collaborative research. “Because Unsyiah publishes at reputable journals as well as UNAIR, of course in the future we really hope that our science development process can cite one another,” added the Rector.
Unsyiah Rector Prof. Dr. Ir Samsul Rizal, M.Eng. expressed his gratitude for the non-formal collaboration that has been established. Many of Unsyiah’s human resources are studying at UNAIR, especially at Faculty of Medicine.
“Many lecturers and doctors are educated by UNAIR at FK UNAIR and become independent doctors on campus and in hospitals,” said Prof. Samsul.
“Hopefully, public health (public health, ed), aquaculture, become a potential that we can develop in the future,” said Prof. Samsul.
Meanwhile, Head of Community Service and Development Institute (LPPM) UNAIR Dr. Eko Supeno, Drs., M.Si. said, there were many opportunities for collaboration between UNAIR and Unsyiah. Besides collaborative research and student exchanges, the cooperation that will be developed is curriculum development for disaster management program as Aceh is an area prone to disaster. UNAIR has a Disaster Management Master’s program in its Postgraduate School.
“It is necessary to develop a curriculum for disaster management program, in order to handle and prevent disaster,” he said.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by the leaders of both parties. From UNAIR, there were Secretary of the University, Vice Rector I, Vice Rector II, Head of LPPM, and directors of several related units. (*)
Author: Binti Q. Masruroh
