The OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) has launched a new coordination office at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) in Indonesia. Established in partnership with the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD), the office aims to foster research, academic exchange, and institutional collaboration among OIC member states.
The facility was formally inaugurated at the WUACD Secretariat in Surabaya on Sunday. It is intended to serve as a hub for joint projects, capacity-building, and knowledge sharing, focusing on sectors including health, agriculture, science, and technology.
What is the objective of the new office?
According to COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, the office will facilitate research mobility and academic networking across the Muslim world. The committee plans to prioritize professional training programs for students and researchers, with a specific focus on emerging technologies, climate resilience, and water resource management.
Rector of Universitas Airlangga and President of WUACD, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Madyan, noted that the office represents a strategic move to address development challenges through innovation. The initiative will support the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence to strengthen ties between leading research institutions.
Did You Know?
The new coordination office in Surabaya will specifically support the COMSTECH Consortium of Excellence, an existing network designed to bolster academic and research cooperation among top-tier universities across OIC member nations.
What are the expected regional implications?
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, stated that the office will enhance scientific ecosystems to combat global issues like food security and public health. He highlighted that scientific collaboration serves as a fundamental pillar for long-term strategic development between Pakistan and Indonesia, particularly in the fields of vaccine development and higher education.
Expert Insight:
By centralizing these functions in Indonesia, COMSTECH is attempting to move beyond traditional diplomatic cooperation toward practical, infrastructure-heavy research. The success of this office likely depends on the ability of member states to move from theory to implementation in areas like climate resilience and vaccine research, which often face significant funding and logistical hurdles in cross-border partnerships.
What happens next?
Following the inauguration, the office is expected to begin coordinating joint publications and faculty exchange programs. Future efforts may focus on youth skills development and technical training, aligning with the broader development priorities identified by OIC member states. As institutional partnerships mature, the office could also become a primary platform for managing regional responses to shared technological and environmental challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new coordination office located?
The office is located at the WUACD Secretariat at Universitas Airlangga in Surabaya, Indonesia.
Which organizations are involved in this partnership?
The initiative is a collaboration between COMSTECH and the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD).
What specific sectors will the office focus on?
The office will focus on science, technology, higher education, innovation, health, agriculture, water resource management, and climate resilience.
How might these new academic partnerships impact your local research community?
