UNIFUR 2023: Unesa Strategy to Discuss Global Climate Through Education

Unesa.ac.id, SURABAYA – In order to go to World Class University (WCU) Surabaya State University held Unesa's International Forum of University Rectors (UNIFUR) 2023 in the Auditorium lt. 11, Rectorate Building, Unesa Campus Lidah Wetan, Surabaya, on November 15, 2023.

With the theme "Promoting Teacher Education for Climate Change Education" this annual event brings in several international partners from various countries such as Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand who collaborate with Asian Centres of Excellence on Education for Sustainable Development. In addition, the holding of Unifur is a form of Unesa's commitment to international cooperation.

Chairman of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) Unesa, Asrori, S.S., M.Pd., in his speech said that this annual activity has a tremendous impact because it has led Unesa to win Gold Medal in the international collaboration category. This achievement is a testament to Unesa's dedication and hard work in terms of internationalization.

"Unesa as PTN-BH is expected to compete globally through the addition of cooperation and collaboration with other foreign institutions," he added.

Prof. Dr. Siti Nur Azizah, S.H., M.Hum. Vice Rector for Planning, Development, Cooperation, and Information and Communication Technology, conveyed the commitment and spirit of collaboration to deal with global climate change problems in the field of education. According to him, Unifur plays an important role as an intermediary for the space to discuss climate change issues globally, especially in Indonesia and several partner countries.

The annual event was attended by several keynote speakers such as Prof. Dr. Nizam, M.Sc., DIC., Ph.D, Acting director of Higher Education of Indonesia, Prof. Hiroki Fujii from Okayama University Japan, Prof. Yoonsook-Shim Rector of Saekyung University Korea, and Yudil Chatim, M.Ed. from the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, China.

The next speech was delivered by Prof. Hiroki Fujii from Okayama University who talked about the impact of climate change in the field of education. This was linked to climate change education planning in the Japanese education system. This includes student experiments, planning for the usefulness of biodiesel, and instructing education teachers to be more familiar with the problems of global climate change. He also added that this issue is a very important thing to research and become a challenge for all people, especially educators in the world.

"Therefore, based on the report compiled from the IPCC, we are promoting UNESCO's policy in climate change education by introducing biodiesel technology," he said.

Meanwhile, another speech was delivered by the Rector of Saekyung University, Korea, Prof. Yoonsook-Shim who was very impressed with the cross-cultural knowledge exchange. In fact, he provides a scholarship program for anyone interested in getting to know Korean culture as well as K-POP. It is hoped that Unesa will cooperate in the long term with the campus he currently leads.

Then the Education and Culture Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in China, Yudil Chatim, M.Ed., revealed that all stakeholders have prepared Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) educators who are superior steps in addressing the UNIFUR 2023 theme.

"There are three teaching competencies needed, namely facilitating the learning process, maintaining the continuity of the learning and creation process, and realizing connectivity, collaboration and participation," he added.

In a series of events, the MoU was also signed by the Asian Teacher Education for Climate Change Education (ATECCE) Forum, University of Southern Queensland, University of Namibia, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), and International University of Management (IUM).

There were also awards given to Unesa partners; the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra Australia, the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul South Korea, Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS) Korea, the Indonesian School of Foreign Affairs in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, INTI International University Malaysia, Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST) Philippines, and the Asian Teacher Education for Climate Change Education (ATECCE) Forum.

Reporter: Joy Nathanael/Fadina

Editor: Rachmaddani Rizki Saputra

Photo: Public Relations Documentation Team

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