Surabaya (UNA) – The Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMSTECH) has opened a new coordination office at Airlangga University in Surabaya, Indonesia, in cooperation with the World Association of Universities for Community Development, in a move aimed at strengthening academic, scientific and research cooperation between universities and research institutions in OIC member states.
The new office was inaugurated at the headquarters of the Secretariat of the World Association of Universities for Community Development, in the presence of a number of academic and diplomatic leaders, including the President of Airlangga University and President of the World Association of Universities, Professor Dr. Muhammad Madyan, and the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Indonesia, Mr. Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry, along with the General Coordinator of COMSTECH, Professor Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry.
Professor Dr. Mohamed Madian affirmed that the new Coordination Office will form a strategic platform to enhance cooperation between universities of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation by launching joint research projects, encouraging collaborative scientific publishing, and expanding student and faculty exchange programs, thus contributing to addressing common development challenges through the application of science, technology, and innovation.
For his part, Pakistani Ambassador Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry commended the initiative, emphasizing that the Islamic world needs to strengthen its research and scientific systems to address rapidly evolving global challenges, including climate change, food security, public health, and digital transformation. He noted that the contribution of Islamic countries to global research output remains limited, necessitating the expansion of scientific partnerships and intensified cooperation among academic institutions.
For his part, COMSTECH General Coordinator Professor Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Chaudhry explained that the new office will contribute to developing capacity-building programs, strengthening researcher networks, and expanding opportunities for institutional cooperation among universities in member states. He added that the initiative will pay particular attention to supporting students and researchers from conflict-affected countries, including Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, and Syria, as well as enhancing cooperation in the areas of water resource management, climate change adaptation, health sciences, emerging technologies, and youth skills development.
Airlangga University officials also confirmed that this partnership will open up broader horizons for Indonesian universities to access international research networks, and strengthen ties between academic institutions and the industrial and community sectors.
The opening of the COMSTECH Coordination Office in Indonesia is seen as an important step towards strengthening scientific diplomacy, academic cooperation and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals in the Islamic world, as well as expanding research partnerships between universities and scientific institutions in OIC member states.
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