Surabaya – The Faculty of Fisheries and Marine (FPK) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to strengthen its commitment to globally competitive higher education through a Strategic Meeting with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) on Monday, August 24, 2026. The meeting served as a strategic platform to expand academic networks, explore opportunities for international collaboration, and support cross-border learning experiences for students.
The Malaysian delegation was welcomed by the leadership and academic community of FPK UNAIR. Vice Dean II of FPK UNAIR, Kustiawan Tri Pursetyo, S.Pi., M.Vet., Ph.D., together with the Faculty Ambassador and heads of departments, attended the meeting. Held at FPK UNAIR, the meeting took place in a warm and engaging atmosphere, providing an opportunity for both sides to learn more about their respective institutional potential.
Kustiawan highlighted the importance of the meeting in establishing broader academic relations among the three higher education institutions.
“This meeting provides a valuable opportunity to get to know one another while opening up opportunities for collaboration that can be developed together,” he said.
Through the Strategic Meeting, the three institutions discussed potential collaboration in education, student competency development, academic knowledge exchange, and the strengthening of international networks in the fields of fisheries and marine sciences.
Introducing FPK UNAIR’s Academic Potential
The agenda continued with an introduction to FPK UNAIR by Dwi Yuli Pujiastuti, S.Pi., M.Si., M.Sc., as Faculty Ambassador. In her presentation, Dwi introduced the development of FPK UNAIR as a faculty committed to advancing education, research, and innovation in fisheries and marine sciences.
In addition to presenting the faculty’s general profile, Abdul Manan, S.Pi., M.Si., Ph.D., Coordinator of the Aquaculture Study Program, presented the profile of the Aquaculture Study Program to representatives from UKM and UiTM. The presentation covered academic fields, faculty expertise, and opportunities for developing academic and research collaborations in aquaculture.
The exchange of information became an important part of the Strategic Meeting, allowing each institution to identify areas of strength that could be developed through collaboration. Cross-border cooperation can broaden access to knowledge, technology, and practical experience relevant to the development of the fisheries and marine sectors.
Such collaboration also has the potential to contribute to various sustainable development agendas. Strengthening education and human resource competencies can contribute to poverty alleviation by increasing capacity and employment opportunities in the fisheries sector. Meanwhile, sustainable aquaculture development is relevant to food security, climate change adaptation, and the responsible utilization of aquatic resources.
UiTM Students Undertake Internship in Indonesia
One concrete form of this collaboration is an internship program involving three UiTM students. The three students will undertake a five-month internship at the Instalasi Budidaya Air Payau (IBAP) Probolinggo and IBAP Raci.
The internship provides students with opportunities to gain direct experience in fisheries and aquaculture practices in Indonesia. Throughout the program, students are expected to broaden their understanding of aquaculture system management, technology implementation, and various practices applied in the aquaculture sector.
Dr. Sharifah Raina binti Manaf, the UiTM lecturer responsible for the students, expressed her expectations for the implementation of the program.
“We hope that practical experience in Indonesia will broaden the students’ perspectives and strengthen their understanding of fisheries aquaculture,” she said.
The internship represents an implementation of international collaboration that goes beyond institutional exchange by providing students with direct learning experiences. Academic interaction and field-based practice are expected to help develop graduates with global perspectives and a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the fisheries sector across different countries.
The partnership between FPK UNAIR, UKM, and UiTM aligns with *SDGs 17: Partnerships for the Goals* through the development of cross-institutional and cross-border collaboration. Capacity building in aquaculture is also connected to *SDGs 1: No Poverty* and *SDGs 2: Zero Hunger* by strengthening the potential of the fisheries sector as a source of economic opportunities and food. Furthermore, the development of adaptive and sustainable aquaculture practices can support *SDGs 13: Climate Action, while responsible management of aquatic resources contributes to **SDGs 14: Life Below Water*. Thus, international collaboration not only expands academic networks but also creates opportunities to jointly address future challenges in the fisheries and marine sectors.
Moving forward, FPK UNAIR hopes that communication and partnership with UKM and UiTM will continue to grow through various joint programs, including student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research, and innovation development in fisheries and marine sciences.
Writer : Farrel Bhanu Mahardhika
Editor : TPA
