MUHIBBAH’S VISIT BETWEEN UNIVERSITAS NEGERI MALANG AND UNIVERSITI ISLAM SULTAN SHARIF ALI STRENGTHENS RESEARCH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND INNOVATION COLLABORATION

The Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam, visited Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), Surabaya, Indonesia, on Thursday, 26 February 2026. The activity took place at the Rectorate Building and involved a strategic discussion and MoA follow-up with the Vice Rector III of UM, Prof. Dr. Markus Diantoro, M.Si., in a formal yet collaborative atmosphere, where both parties actively exchanged ideas and institutional perspectives.

This meeting was part of an ongoing academic visit under the UM International Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program, by Dr. Nor Surilawana Sulaiman, a lecturer from UNISSA. The discussion aimed to formulate concrete, measurable steps to implement the MoU, particularly in research, community service, and innovation. The meeting was conducted interactively, allowing participants to respond directly to each agenda item and propose actionable plans.

During the meet-up, both institutions explored various collaborative opportunities, including joint research projects, academic exchanges, community engagement programs, and innovation-based initiatives. The discussion was marked by active participation, with representatives from UM outlining potential research clusters and the UNISSA delegation sharing insights on international publication strategies and collaborative frameworks. Notes were taken systematically to ensure follow-up actions could be clearly documented and executed.

Prof. Dr. Markus Diantoro, M.Si, emphasised the importance of translating institutional agreements into concrete and sustainable programs that generate academic and societal impact. In line with this, Dr. Nor Surilawana Sulaiman highlighted the significance of cross-institutional collaboration in addressing global challenges in education and research, particularly in strengthening the quality and visibility of scholarly work.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to initiate follow-up actions, including drafting joint research proposals, organising capacity-building workshops, and establishing a technical team to oversee the implementation of agreed programs. This MoU follow-up meeting is expected to serve as a strong foundation for sustainable collaboration between UNISSA and UM, fostering impactful outcomes in research, education, and community development at both national and international levels.

This program supports the implementation of SDG 4 (Quality Education)  by strengthening academic collaboration and knowledge exchange, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by reinforcing international institutional partnerships between UNISSA and UM.