The UNAIR delegation was welcomed on 12 October 2022 by the Indonesian Ambassador to Timor Leste, Okto Dorinus Manik, and the education attaché, Prof. Dr Phil Ikhfan Haris, M.Sc. The first UNAIR delegation was led by Dr. Gadis Meinar Sari and Dr. Pratiwi Soesilawati. This phase 1 delegation participated in carrying out International Community Development activities in WUACD on 13 and 14 October 2022 as well as a continuing education exhibition in Timor Leste where the 2nd phase UNAIR delegation would arrive on 16 October 2022. 

The first delegation was the representatives of the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Business Economics, and the School of Postgraduate. As a young country that desperately needs human resources, according to the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Timor Leste, Okto Dorinus Manik, UNAIR’s action is very precise. “The Indonesian Embassy provides an opportunity to help cooperation between universities in Indonesia and the government of Timor Leste. The implementation of Community Development by various faculties within Universitas Airlangga is expected to bring a good impression to the government of the Republic of Indonesia in the eyes of the government of Timor Leste.” he said. Many scholars from Timor Leste are alumni of UNAIR graduates. The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia as a bridge between universities in Indonesia and Dili so that an MOU can be carried out.

Three Pillars

“The priority is for postgraduate education,” said Okto. Because of the need for postgraduates for the development of Timor Leste. Doctor Girl Meinar Sari conveyed that the community development program which is packaged in the WUACD is a series of activities that UNAIR will continue to carry out. “We carry out the three Pillars of Higher Education in this program for Timor Leste. They are education, community development, and research,” said the head of the UNAIR’s Institute for Community Service and Development (LPPM). Meanwhile, the secretary of WUACD, Dr Pratiwi, drg, M.Kes, PAK conveyed that community development was based on the implemented research that developed at Universitas Airlangga. Moreover, the second delegation for this program was also presented by several UNAIR’s representatives including: The Faculty of Humanities, The Faculty of Science and Technology, The Faculty of Fisheries and Marine.