UNIFUR 2023: Unesa Strategy to Discuss Global Climate Through Education

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

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

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

"Unesa as a PTN-BH is expected to be able to compete globally through additional cooperation and collaboration with other foreign institutions," he added.

< p>Prof. Dr. Siti Nur Azizah, S.H., M.Hum. The Deputy Chancellor for Planning, Development, Cooperation, and Information and Communication Technology, expressed his commitment and spirit of collaboration to face the problem of global climate change in the education sector. According to him, Unifur plays an important role as an intermediary for discussion in discussing climate change issues globally, especially in Indonesia and several partner countries.

The annual activity 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, Chancellor 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 spoke about the impact of climate change in the field of education. This is related to climate change education planning in the education system in Japan. This includes student experiments, planning the benefits of biodiesel, and directing education teachers to become more familiar with the problems of global climate change. He also added that this problem is a very important thing to research and is a challenge for all levels of society, especially educators in the world.

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

Meanwhile, another speech was delivered by the Chancellor of Korea's Saekyung University, Prof. Yoonsook-Shim was very impressed with the exchange of knowledge across cultures. He even provides a scholarship program for anyone who is interested in getting to know Korean culture such as K-POP. It is his hope that Unesa will be willing to collaborate in the long term with the campus he is currently leading.

Then the Education and Cultural Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in China, Yudil Chatim, M.Ed., revealed that all stakeholders had prepared their staff. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) educators are the leading step in responding to the UNIFUR 2023 theme.

"There are three teacher 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 this series of events, an 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 the International University of Management (IUM).

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

Reporter: Joy Nathanael/Fadina

Editor: Rachmaddani Rizki Saputra

Photo: Public Relations Documentation Team