EduAsiaNews, Surabaya — Universitas Negeri Surabaya (Unesa) demonstrated its presence on the international stage through active participation in the Forum on Clean Energy Engineering 2026, held in Seoul, South Korea on April 18, 2026.
At the forum, which brought together academics, researchers, and clean energy practitioners from various countries, Unesa not only participated as an attendee but also played a role as one of the key supporters of the conference.
According to Unesa’s Vice Rector III, Bambang Sigit Widodo, who also took part in the event, the university’s involvement represents a strategic step to expand its global network while strengthening its contribution to innovation in sustainable energy.
Together with several international institutions such as Soochow University, University of Ljubljana, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), and Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Unesa supported the organization of the three-day forum.
“Unesa’s participation in this forum is not merely symbolic; it demonstrates that we are ready to contribute to the global conversation on clean energy and a sustainable future,” he stated.
Active Delegation Strengthens Global Collaboration
The Unesa delegation, led directly by the Vice Rector, included a number of academics and researchers who actively engaged in various forum activities.
From scientific discussions and research presentations to cross-country exchanges of ideas, the entire series of activities served as a collaborative platform to address global challenges in clean energy. The delegation’s presence also reflects the institution’s commitment to developing innovation- and sustainability-based education.
The university emphasized that its role in the forum was not merely symbolic. In addition to supporting the event, Unesa sent experts to present their latest research findings, particularly in the integration of technology in education and the development of environmentally friendly solutions.
This momentum is considered crucial in strengthening Unesa’s position within the global academic ecosystem while opening opportunities for future international collaboration.
“This forum serves as an important platform to expand networks and open opportunities for cross-country research collaboration that directly impacts educational development at Unesa,” he added.
During the forum, several Unesa delegates, including Binar Kurnia Prahani, Muhammad Abdul Ghofur, Lusia Rachmawati, and Deny Arifiana, participated as presenters and active contributors.
Solar Energy Fashion Innovation Wins Award
A notable achievement was also recorded by one of the delegates, Deny Arifiana, a lecturer in the Master’s Program in Creative Industry at Unesa, who received the Best Presenter award at the forum.
The award was granted for his research titled “Integrating Renewable Energy Into Fashion: Design Innovation of Solar-Powered Travelling Wear,” which proposes an innovative integration of renewable energy technology with fashion design.
In his presentation, Deny introduced the concept of travel wear equipped with flexible solar panels. This innovation enables users to harness solar energy as a portable power source, making it not only a fashion product but also a practical solution for supporting a sustainable lifestyle.
This interdisciplinary approach was considered unique, as it bridges the clean energy sector with the creative industry, which is closely connected to everyday life.
“This achievement demonstrates that innovations from Unesa’s academic community are capable of competing at the global level and offering creative solutions to future energy challenges,” he stated.
Commitment Toward a World-Class University
Overall, Unesa’s participation in FCEE 2026 reaffirms its position as an institution actively engaged in international collaboration and globally competitive research development.
Through this involvement, Unesa continues to strengthen its commitment to supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of clean energy and climate action. This step also forms part of the university’s broader efforts to become a world-class institution that delivers tangible impact for the global community.
