RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya – Airlangga University (UNAIR) in Surabaya, East Java, has taken another step in expanding its international partnerships, welcoming a delegation from the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) and leaders of top Taiwanese universities on August 6, 2026. The visit, held at UNAIR’s Campus MERR C in Surabaya, focused on advancing collaboration in higher education, research, and global health services.

Rector Muhammad Madyan described the visit as a valuable opportunity to expand academic ties. “This visit provides an important chance for Universitas Airlangga to strengthen communication, exchange ideas, and explore concrete collaboration with TETO and partner universities in Taiwan,” he said, as quoted on UNAIR official website, on Friday, August 7, 2026.

He also expressed gratitude for the invitation from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and TETO for UNAIR to conduct a return visit later this month.

A key milestone of the meeting was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Kaohsiung Medical University and UNAIR’s Faculty of Nursing. The agreement marks the beginning of sustained collaboration to improve nursing education and research quality.

TETO Surabaya Director General David Lin praised UNAIR’s commitment to international collaboration. “The results of our joint medical conferences have established key models for care, protocols, and innovative processes in metabolic diseases, oncology, and telemedicine. The impact is felt not only in Surabaya but internationally,” he noted.

David Lin emphasized Taiwan’s strong academic standing, with several universities ranked among the world’s top 500 in the QS World University Rankings 2027. He also pointed to successful medical collaborations already underway, including UNAIR Hospital’s involvement in international medical conferences in 2025 and 2026.

The delegation featured representatives from leading Taiwanese universities such as Ming Chuan University and I-Shou University, who also participated in Surabaya’s higher education exhibition. Discussions explored future opportunities ranging from faculty and student mobility to joint research initiatives.

For UNAIR, the engagement reflects a broader vision of positioning itself as a hub for global health collaboration, strengthening academic mobility, and expanding its role in international research networks. ***