Unair–COMSTECH Partnership Expands Global Research on Climate and Health

RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya - Airlangga University (Unair) Surabaya has joined hands with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) to strengthen international research collaboration.

The initiative focuses on climate change and global health, aiming to connect Indonesian researchers with wider networks across 44 countries and more than 50 universities.

Unair’s Deputy Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development, Muhammad Miftahussurur, underlined the importance of bridging academia and industry.

“The main homework in Indonesia, not only Unair, is how universities and industries can work well together. We have good examples that we can adopt, implement, and they can support us because they are excellent at connecting universities with industries,” he said on Thursday, June 18, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Miftahussurur also highlighted the expertise offered through COMSTECH’s network. “They already provided support from experts with the highest H-Index in the world. Some have H-Index above 60 or even 90, while ours is still around 30. The H-Index shows the strength of global researchers, and their high levels can be connected to us,” Miftah explained.

Executive Secretary for Community Development at Unair, Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih, emphasized why climate change and health are inseparable.

“Like in Pakistan, we studied indoor air pollution in homes. In some villages they still use firewood or smoke indoors, so the link to health is very broad--we talk about climate and health together, because they cannot be separated,” she said.

Nyoman also pointed to Unair’s multidisciplinary strengths as a foundation for impactful solutions. “We are strong in health science, but we also have faculties of science and technology, life sciences, and social sciences. This multidisciplinary approach allows us to deliver big impacts and solutions,” she noted.

Throughout 2026, Unair is also carrying out 10 international community service programs in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Australia, Eswatini, and Nigeria. These initiatives reflect Unair’s commitment to expanding its global reach while addressing pressing challenges that connect climate and health.

This collaboration not only enhances Unair’s research capacity but also strengthens its role in shaping solutions for global issues. It positions the university as a hub for multidisciplinary innovation and expands Indonesia’s presence in international scientific cooperation. ***