The World University Association of Community Development (WUACD) in collaboration with its two partner institutions, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through Kolej Rahman Putra, and Universitas Airlangga, in cooperation with the Ministry of Community Service of Universitas Airlangga Student Executive Board, collaborated under the program “Kolej Rahman Putra ke Surabaya.” This program took place in Desa Wonokitri, Tosari, Kabupaten Pasuruan, East Java, from 2 to 10 September 2025. This program emphasized community empowerment through skills-based workshops and knowledge sharing, thereby strengthening ties between universities and the community. One of the program’s main objectives was to promote sustainable development through hands-on education and training. This aligns with Universitas Airlangga’s global commitment to the acceleration of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Each of the parties involved in the program reflected the commitment through one of the program’s main activities, a potato dimsum workshop for housewives in Wonokitri Village. Universitas Airlangga Student Executive Board led the event and demonstrated step-by-step how to make dim sum from potatoes, a local commodity in the village. The choice of potatoes was based on the use of local ingredients and encouraged housewives to try new cooking methods that could generate income. This initiative aims to provide practical skills to women, enabling them to contribute to the family economy and the community as a whole by teaching them how to start culinary businesses.

The program also included a short lecture by Dunga Dwi Barinta S.E., M.M., a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga. In the seminar, Mr. Dunga taught the fundamentals of entrepreneurship by providing ideas for starting a small business, managing simple finances, and identifying current market opportunities. This education, along with hands-on practice, resulted in a learning experience that has the potential to help Wonokitri’s women build skills and achieve long-term success.

The implementation of this activity aligns closely with SDG 5 Gender Equality. By choosing the housewives as primary participants, the program emphasized the importance of women’s empowerment through education and skills training. Gender equality in this context extends beyond equal access; the program focuses on equipping women with the tools to achieve financial independence, strengthen their decision-making within their households, and actively contribute to community development. Through this program, the organizers aim to reduce gender inequality by demonstrating that women can play a vital role in the economic transformation of Wonokitri village.

Through the “Kolej Rahman Putra ke Surabaya” initiative, Universitas Airlangga and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, through Kolej Rahman Putra, reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening community capacity. This collaboration highlighted how international partnerships can generate meaningful impact at the grassroots level by promoting sustainable livelihoods and advancing gender equality in rural communities.