PEKALONGAN — Universitas Pekalongan (UNIKAL) reaffirmed its position as a pioneer of multilateral academic collaboration in Southeast Asia by hosting the Global Academic Forum (GAF) 2025 on Tuesday, 9 December 2025. This strategic forum brought together five universities from five countries in a single international platform designed to expand networks in education, research, and global mobility programs.
Held in a hybrid format from the 8th-floor Auditorium of Building F, UNIKAL connected participants from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (Brunei Darussalam), Kalasin University (Thailand), An Giang University (Vietnam), and Mariano Marcos State University (Philippines). The forum marked the first formal gathering that unites all five institutions under a structured multilateral collaboration framework.
In his opening remarks, the Rector of Universitas Pekalongan emphasized that GAF 2025 is not merely a ceremonial event, but a strategic step to strengthen academic connectivity across borders.
“In a rapidly changing world, no university can stand alone. Collaboration is our shared space to grow,” he stated.
“This forum facilitates the exchange of international experiences, aligns our programs, and reaffirms our shared commitment through the Statement of Commitment we sign today.”
He highlighted that this collaborative effort will serve as the foundation for a more open, modern, and globally responsive future in higher education.
UNIKAL Initiates the Signing of the Multilateral Commitment
As the pioneering host, UNIKAL led the signing of the Statement of Commitment by all participating institutions. The document serves as the initial foundation for aligning international initiatives, including student mobility, research internships, teaching practicums, and jointly hosted academic conferences.
The signing took place simultaneously across countries—both onsite at UNIKAL and remotely—reflecting the collective seriousness and readiness to advance toward a more systematic multilateral cooperation.
Guided by Moderator Siwi, Discussions Ran Dynamic and Insightful
The forum continued with the institutional presentation session, where moderator Siwi Sri Widhowati.,S.Kep.,Ns.,M.,Sc.,Ph.D ensured a lively, structured, and interactive flow of discussion. Each university was allocated 20 minutes to showcase their international programs, past and ongoing collaborations, and new opportunities for partnership.
UNIKAL opened the session by presenting its student mobility initiatives, teaching practicums, joint research ventures, and upcoming collaborative conferences. Partner universities then shared their respective programs, creating a rich exchange of insights and best practices.
Program Alignment Session: Converging Agendas Into Collective Action
Following the presentations, the program alignment session prompted a deeper exchange of ideas. Participants explored ways to integrate existing initiatives, identified feasible short-term activities, and discussed forming a cross-country working group. Key potential areas of collaboration included:
- credit-bearing student exchanges,
- joint courses involving faculty from multiple countries,
- research internships connecting laboratories and research centers,
- and long-term plans for an annual multilateral academic forum.
Delegates expressed strong commitment not only to expanding bilateral cooperation but also to shifting toward a multilateral model, ensuring broader and more structured impact for all institutions involved.