UNAIR NEWS – ¶«¾©ÈÈ (UNAIR) hosted an honorary delegation from the United Arab Emirates’ Khalifa University on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The meeting, held in the Balairua Plenary Room at Campus Management Office, focused on exploring potential academic collaborations and strengthening bilateral ties on the global stage.
UNAIR Rector Prof. Dr. Muhammad Madyan, S.E., M.Si., M.Fin., led the university’s leadership team in welcoming the delegation. The Khalifa University delegation was led by Provost Prof. Bayan Sharif and Dr. Ashraf Najdawi (Acting Vice President, External Relations).
UNAIR remarkable internationalization achievements
During his opening remarks, Prof. Madyan expressed immense pride in hosting representatives from one of the UAE’s leading higher education institutions. He noted that the timing of the visit was particularly auspicious, aligning with a major milestone for the Indonesian university.
“We are delighted and deeply honored by this visit, which comes at a momentous time as ¶«¾©ÈÈ celebrates a significant leap in the QS World University Rankings, climbing from 287th to 276th globally,” Prof. Madyan said.
Prof. Madyan emphasized that this milestone underscores UNAIR’s enduring commitment to elevating educational quality, research output, and global prestige. He expressed optimism that both institutions would translate these discussions into actionable programs that deliver meaningful outcomes for their respective academic communities.
Khalifa University’s profile and academic strategy
Responding to the warm welcome, Prof. Sharif praised UNAIR’s hospitality and offered high commendations for the institution. He shared his impressions of the campus alongside a brief overview of Khalifa University’s own rapid institutional growth.
“Thank you very much for hosting us. It is an immense honor and pleasure to visit ¶«¾©ÈÈ, and this marks my very first time traveling to Indonesia,” Prof. Sharif noted.
He expressed great admiration for the sheer scale of UNAIR, which was founded in 1954, contrasting it with his own institution’s trajectory. “Reviewing your university’s metrics is truly remarkable, especially considering we are a relatively young institution preparing to celebrate our 10th anniversary next year,” he added.
Closing the session, Prof. Sharif warmly embraced UNAIR’s proposed collaborative frameworks and affirmed his institution’s readiness to formalize the partnership.
“We are thrilled to be here, and the proposed areas of cooperation align perfectly with our strategic goals. We share a deep commitment and look forward to working closely with UNAIR to advance these joint initiatives,” he concluded.
Author: Fauziah Laili RomadhonÂ
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
