European Ambassadors Strengthen Educational Ties with Indonesian Students at UNAIR
Delegates from European embassies visited the Europe Centre (EUC) at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) on July 1, 2025. This visit aimed to enhance educational cooperation between the European Union and Indonesia and took place at the EUC, located on the 12th floor of the ASEEC Tower on UNAIR’s Dharmawangsa-B Campus.
Delegation Overview
The delegation included H.E. Denis Chaibi, the European Union Ambassador to Indonesia, as well as ambassadors and representatives from twelve European countries, including Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria.
Welcome and Significance
Prof. Iman Harymawan, Director of Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE), welcomed the guests and highlighted that the EUC is the first of its kind established in Indonesia. UNAIR currently hosts over 48,000 students, among which more than 2,000 are international students each year. Prof. Harymawan noted the university’s extensive collaboration with institutions in 28 European nations, creating opportunities for UNAIR students to engage in academic programs in Europe, including exchange programs, internships, and scholarships.
Role of the EU Centre
The significance of UNAIR’s EU Centre was further elaborated by Prof. Harymawan, who described its role in fostering student engagement and diplomatic connections for students from UNAIR and other universities across Indonesia. He emphasized that the relationship between the EU and UNAIR is aimed at inclusivity.
Importance of Diplomatic Interactions
EU Ambassador H.E. Denis Chaibi highlighted the importance of meaningful interactions between European diplomats and Indonesian universities. He characterized the EUC as a critical platform for diplomacy focused on student collaboration, designed to promote active dialogue and strengthen partnerships.
Building Partnerships
Ambassador Chaibi, accompanied by Deputy Ambassador Stefan, expressed their intention to build partnerships with leading Indonesian universities through direct engagement and collaborative initiatives. He encouraged students to take full advantage of opportunities such as scholarships and exchange programs, and mentioned initiatives like the European Higher Education Fair and pre-departure events for scholarship recipients.
Support from Sweden
The Swedish Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Daniel Blockert, acknowledged Sweden’s support for a doctoral program for medical students at UNAIR and commended the university’s strong outreach to students from diverse backgrounds across the nation.
Original source: Febriana Putri Nur Aziizah, Ragil Kukuh Imanto.
