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UNAIR NEWS – Amid increasingly complex social, economic, and environmental challenges, higher education institutions play a vital role as catalysts for sustainable transformation. “Universities hold a strategic position in addressing global challenges through three interconnected functions: education, research and innovation, and community engagement,” said UNAIR Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development (RICD), Prof Muhammad Miftahussurur dr MKes SpPD-KGEH PhD FINASIM, during the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) on Tuesday (June 23, 2026).

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Academic integration

In line with this commitment, Prof Miftahussurur explained that, as a world-class university, UNAIR has adopted several integrated approaches to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the academic sphere, for instance, the university has incorporated the SDGs into its educational curriculum. Moreover, SDG values are embedded in community-based learning initiatives and international academic collaborations.

“Every year, all new students participate in an SDGs orientation program through PKKMB (Introduction to Campus Life for New Students). We also promote SDG leadership through the AMORA program, an SDG learning initiative for active UNAIR students. In addition, we actively promote the SDGs through the UNAIR SDGs Ambassador program, which aims to empower students as sustainability advocates and changemakers both within the university and in the wider community,” he said.

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Furthermore, UNAIR actively engages its students in community-based learning. Through the Belajar Bersama Komunitas (BBK, Learning Together with the Community) program, students serve as agents of change by applying their knowledge to develop practical solutions and take concrete action in addressing challenges faced by local communities.

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“Every year, UNAIR deploys approximately 3,000 students in each BBK program period, which is held twice annually. They are assigned to communities across all regencies and cities in East Java Province,” he said.

These efforts are further reinforced through various flagship initiatives, including UNAIR Sustain Action, the Mangrove Festival, the Floating Hospital (Ksatria Airlangga Floating Hospital), and the Brantas River Sustainability Initiative.

SDGs-based strategic planning

At the institutional level, SDG values have also been embedded in UNAIR’s governance system and strategic leadership across all three pillars of higher education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi). According to Prof Miftahussurur, the SDGs are integrated into the university’s strategic plan and supported by an institutional framework, including the establishment of the SDGs Center, which coordinates various sustainability initiatives across faculties and university units.

UNAIR’s strategic plan also places a strong emphasis on campus sustainability. This commitment is reflected in the publication of the university’s annual Sustainability Report.

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Another key approach emphasized by UNAIR in implementing the SDGs is strengthening the inclusion of vulnerable and underrepresented groups, fostering partnerships at both the national and global levels, and maximizing the impact of sustainable development initiatives.

“Through these partnerships, we actively contribute to policymaking and capacity-building initiatives, supporting 42 public institutions and 353 partner villages across various regions. By fostering collaboration, UNAIR seeks to transform knowledge and partnerships into meaningful contributions to sustainable development at the local, national, and global levels,” he emphasized.

In closing, Prof Miftahussurur emphasized that the future of sustainable development cannot be achieved without collaboration.“The future of sustainable development will not be shaped by institutions working in isolation. Rather, it will be built by institutions that are able to connect knowledge, innovation, partnerships, and communities to create lasting impact,” he concluded.

Author: Yulia Rohmawati