Unhas Brings Eastern Indonesia’s Voice to Global Peace Forum

RRI.CO.ID, Makassar – Hasanuddin University (Unhas) stood out as the only Indonesian university participating in the 6th University Presidents for Peace Conference, hosted by Hiroshima University at its Higashi‑Senda Campus, Japan, on August 6, 2026.

The forum gathered 53 representatives from 17 universities across 11 countries and regions, reinforcing the role of higher education in advancing peace and sustainability.

For Unhas, the significance of joining the conference went beyond representation. Vice Rector for Partnerships, Internationalization, and Alumni Affairs, Suharman Hamzah, explained that the involvement placed Unhas within a consortium of universities committed to strengthening academic contributions to peace and sustainability.

“For Unhas, this forum is more than just a meeting between universities. We see how historical experiences can be translated into learning, research, and education to build a generation more open to differences and stronger in the spirit of collaboration,” he said in Makassar on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The conference coincided with the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, providing a powerful historical context for discussions.

The event featured the reading of the University Presidents for Peace Declaration by Hiroshima University President Mitsuo Ochi, who outlined a shared commitment to building peaceful and sustainable societies through education, research, international collaboration, student exchanges, and talent development. The declaration was unanimously endorsed by all participants.

Suharman emphasized that Unhas’s identity as a university rooted in Eastern Indonesia, with its diverse communities and cultural backgrounds, offers relevant experiences for global dialogue on peace and sustainability.

“Encounters with universities from different countries also open space to broaden academic perspectives and develop forms of cooperation suited to each context,” he noted.

He added that internationalization should not be measured merely by the number of partners but by the quality of interaction and contributions that emerge from such partnerships.

In his opening remarks, President Mitsuo Ochi stressed the importance of carrying forward the memory and lessons of Hiroshima’s tragedy. He underlined the role of universities in shaping generations capable of contributing to peace through education, research, and international exchange. **