Universities are not just about producing a trained workforce for the global or local surroundings. They play a vital, integral role in community development. Teaching is no longer the sole focus of higher education; community service has become highly valued as an additional university responsibility in recent years due to natural societal changes. Based on the existing data supported by advanced knowledge and technology and the capability to integrate available resources, higher education could significantly impact communities to improve their members’ lives. This is the role that universities play, and it is a role that is valued and integral to our mission.
To perform the role of higher education more effectively, it is necessary to build an institution for collaboration and coordination efforts to address the urgent and important global challenges, including those related to poverty, health, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice in each part of the world as in 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The World University Association for Community Development (WUACD) was established to serve those purposes. Through WUACD, universities worldwide will work together and perform hand-in-hand cooperation and collaboration to participate actively in community development, addressing these urgent and important global challenges.
The main function of WUACD is to construct and develop cooperation and collaboration between Universitas Airlangga and other universities and institutions of different nationalities and academic backgrounds to improve the prosperity of communities and address global challenges relating to poverty, health, inequality, climate change, environments, peace, and social justice with the involvement of lecturers and students.
Dear Estemeed members of WUACD,
It is with immense pride and a sense of purpose that I welcome you to the pages of the ‘Progress Report of the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD) Program 2025’. Within these pages, you will discover the embodiment of our unwavering dedication to making a significant impact on the lives of the global community in the first half of 2025. Your work is not just a part of a program but a force shaping the world and making a real difference. Our association, a collective of dedicated institutions, has experienced a remarkable expansion from 18 founding university members to an impressive 38 members since the establishment of WUACD. This growth is not just a number, but a testament to our shared mission and the collaborative ethos of each member institution. Your contributions and active participation have been the foundation of our progress, and we all can take pride in this collective achievement.
The successful completion of the WUACD International Community Development program from April to June 2025 is a testament to the fortitude of our commitment. This initiative, conducted in Malaysia, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, provided students and lecturers from numerous member universities with invaluable opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience in local community contexts. The student and staff mobility scheme, in collaboration with the Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, the University of Notre Dame Australia, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, and in the future with Federation University, demonstrates this commitment. Students and lecturers are involved in this program, and by participating, lecturers can establish potential future collaborations in community development and research while students acquire new skills and knowledge. We aim to provide comparable opportunities to all of our member universities in the future, cultivating a dynamic learning and development environment.
A testament to our dedication to broader collaboration, WUACD operates through a multi-helix engagement model. Our commitment to expediting the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is underscored by cooperation with global organizations, including the World University Association for Sustainable Development (WASD), ASEAN University Network on University Social Responsibility & Sustainability (AUN USR&S), and the ASEAN BCG Network. This commitment was recently recognized by WASD, which honored WUACD with an appreciation award for our outstanding contributions to sustainability through international partnerships. We remain dedicated to collaborating with all members to ensure that they are actively involved in accelerating the accomplishment of the SDGs. We are welcoming new members who share our vision and dedication as we continue to progress in our pursuit of a more extensive impact. By working together, we can further our mission and amplify the positive changes we aspire to bring about in communities worldwide.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement.
