Edu Asia New,UNAIR NEWS – A delegation of students from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) had the opportunity to participate in a prestigious international program. Muhammad Bintang Akbar Hatta from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) and Berlian Nova Koesuma from the Faculty of Humanities (FIB) were selected as UNAIR representatives to take part in the Temasek Foundation – NUS Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking Program (TF-NUS LEaRN). The program is being held from Monday (30 June 2025) to Friday (18 July 2025) and takes place at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
The program is organized by the NUS Global Relations Office with full support from the Temasek Foundation. Bintang stated that, in addition to the engaging series of activities, he was interested in joining the program due to the opportunity to learn from one of the world’s leading universities and the strong support provided by the Temasek Foundation.
An Opportunity to Enhance Leadership Skills
The TF-NUS LEaRN program consists of two main modules: Hidden Communities and Community Leadership and Developing Communities in Southeast Asia. Both modules aim to cultivate young leaders across Asia who possess leadership insight, cross-cultural understanding, and a strong commitment to community sustainability.
“We do not only attend classes, but also engage directly in field activities. Interacting with communities in Singapore has tangibly contributed to the development of our leadership skills,” said Bintang on behalf of the delegation.
Networking Across Countries
Bintang expressed that he and his colleague were highly enthusiastic about participating in the program. In addition to the engaging activities, the program also provided valuable opportunities to build cross-national friendships and professional networks. “The participants come from various countries across the ASEAN region. From Indonesia alone, representatives come from several universities such as UNAIR, UI, UGM, ITS, IPB, and ITB,” Bintang explained.
Bintang further explained that to participate in the program, applicants are required to submit their curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, and several supporting documents to Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE). AGE then conducts an internal selection process before recommending candidates to the program organizers.
According to Bintang, the greatest challenges during the program included adapting to time differences, the transportation system, and a demanding schedule of activities. However, these challenges were successfully managed through effective time management and a strong commitment to actively participate in every activity.
