UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has made another proudest achievement as it is ranked 90th at Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings for ‘No Poverty’ category. The rankings assess the higher education quality in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
One of the supporting units that play a significant role in this achievement is UNAIR Center for Social Fund Management (PUSPAS). PUSPAS itself is an organization established by UNAIR to contribute and achieve community welfare.
Head of PUSPAS, Dr. Wisudanto, SE, MM CFP., ASPM, revealed that from the beginning, PUSPAS was projected to support SDGs activities in the fields of no poverty, zero hunger, quality education, gender equality, and several other goals related to social services.
Dr. Wisudanto also revealed that PUSPAS had intensified its social activities, especially in dealing with the pandemic. “Last November, we collaborated with UNAIR Alumni Association to make and distribute one million face masks. Also, the distribution of Covid-19 donations of more than 13 billion to Universitas Airlangga Hospital, “he explained.
At the start of the pandemic, PUSPAS had also distributed 600 packages of essential food assistance for the elderly and workers affected by Covid-19. PUSPAS works with its Alms Squad for the regular distribution of 200 meals every Friday. PUSPAS each month also gives education aids to 60 students experiencing financial difficulties.
“We are also involved greatly in raising disaster funds and are currently running the GeNose car intended for Covid-19 testing services, distribution of aids, and collecting donations for the general public,” he added in an interview with UNAIR News on Thursday, May 20, 2021.
PUSPAS is also trying to embrace various small and medium enterprises (UKM) in UNAIR affected by the pandemic. “We will work together with the Abada Cooperative to revive the student canteens’ UKM at UNAIR, which mostly closed. We plan to direct the market resegmentation to the general public by using an application,” he explained.
Even though the operations are done during a pandemic, Dr. Wisudanto emphasized that the PUSPAS team does these various efforts with great sincerity and responsibility. Moreover, all PUSPAS personnel must be involved in the struggle with the community. Dr. Wisudanto also expressed his gratitude for the supports of UNAIR officials, partners, students, and donors of PUSPAS in various regions. The Top 90 achievement in the category of No Poverty, THE Impact Rankings, is deemed the result of all parties’ collaboration.
“The role of universities in SDGs, including poverty alleviation, is actually the responsibility of all members of the community, not only PUSPAS. But we will keep trying our best at the forefront of implementing SDGs in UNAIR,” he said.
UNAIR, as one of the best universities in Indonesia, is committed to increasing its contribution to the wider community, state, and nation of Indonesia. (*)
Author: Intang Arifia
Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh
