UNAIR NEWS 鈥� 东京热 () continues expanding international academic networking through a company visit to Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland, on Thursday, September 10, 2026. This visit became a platform to explore strengthening research collaborations, academic publications, doctoral education, and research partnerships which give positive impact to industry and community.
UNAIR delegations led by the Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development (RICD), Prof Dr Muhammad Miftahussurur, dr MKes SpPD-KGEH PhD. On the other hand, Edinburgh Napier University was represented by Dr Gail Norns, the Associate Dean International and Associate Professor Midwifery at the School of Health & Social Care, along with Dr Pauline A. Gordon, the Deputy Head of International (Partnerships) The Business School, and several representations from the research center.
From consortium collaboration to applied research
Prof Miftahussurur explained that UNAIR and Edinburgh Napier had previously been connected through several global research networks, especially in the health sector. In the future, this collaboration is directed to evolve into joint research designed from the ground up by both institutions, featuring more targeted agendas, funding, and outputs.
He introduced UNAIR鈥檚 research ecosystems, including research centers and research excellence in the health sector that already possess international networks on clinical research and community. He also emphasized UNAIR鈥檚 interest in expanding collaborations into business, public policy, and community development sectors in line with the mandate of the RICD sector.
Research connected with industry and community
The host presented several research centers at The Business School Edinburgh Napier which work directly with the industry, government, and community. These include Centre for Business Innovations and Sustainable Solutions which focuses on supervising business and community in generating innovative and sustainable solutions; Tourism Research Centre which highlights sustainable tourism; Centre for Child & Family Law & Policy which contributes in law development and family policy; and Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement.
鈥淭hese research centers are multidisciplinary and open for research collaborations and international partners,鈥� he said.
Prof Miftahussurur assessed that this model of research center connected to the industry is in line with UNAIR鈥檚 direction in strengthening research downstreaming and community development. This opens up applied research opportunities especially in the issue of sustainability, creative economy and tourism, as well as social policy.
鈥淚n the health sector, Edinburgh Napier has a research focus on mental health, wellbeing, and midwifery, including the ongoing midwifery project with partners in Vietnam that is considered to have potential for expansion to the context of Indonesia,鈥� he explained.
Doctoral programs and joint supervision
The discussion also narrowed down to the doctoral programs scheme as a pathway to strengthen joint research. Edinburgh Napier presented the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program, which was designed in a modular and flexible format with online components, enabling students from Indonesia to pursue it without having to stay full-time in Edinburgh. The split-site PhD scheme, where students divide their time between their home university and Edinburgh Napier under joint supervision from both institutions, was also discussed.
Prof Miftahussurur explained that UNAIR has undergone joint supervisions with universities in Australia, Japan, and Taiwan, with flexible timelines and arrangements determined jointly between students and their supervisors. He proposed the similar scheme, including sandwich program and double degree, to be developed jointly with Edinburgh Napier through Postgraduate School (SPs) and Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UNAIR.
Next steps
As a follow up, both institutions agreed to conduct an online technical meeting involving Postgraduate School (SPs) and related units at UNAIR. This meeting will discuss the development of doctoral education partnership, joint research, and collaborations with several research centers of Edinburgh Napier.
In this visit, Prof Miftahussurur was also accompanied by the Head of Institute for Innovation, Journal Development, Publishing, and Intellectual Property Rights (LPJPHKI), Prof Ferry Efendi SKep Ns MSc PhD, who is also a lecturer from Faculty of Nursing (FKp) UNAIR. Prof Efendi highlighted opportunities for joint research concerning the migration of Indonesian nurses overseas through government-to-government schemes, including the collaboration development in the midwifery sector.
鈥淭he visit to Edinburgh Napier University was a part of a series of official visits by the UNAIR delegations to the United Kingdom on September 7-13, 2026, which also included a meeting with King鈥檚 college London and participation in the EAIE Glasgow 2026,鈥� Prof Efendi said.
Author:聽 Prof Ferry Efendi, SKep Ns MSc PhD / Khefti Al Mawalia
