FEB NEWS – The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Universitas Airlangga, in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia, successfully held the Student Inbound 2026 Spring Program with the theme "Circular Economy Strategies for Sustainable Business Transformation." This program was implemented as part of an international academic exchange initiative aimed at strengthening global cooperation and increasing students' understanding of sustainable business practices through a circular economy approach.
The program brought together students, academics, and faculty from both institutions to engage in knowledge-sharing activities emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and international collaboration in economics and business. Participants from UiTM included senior lecturers from the Faculty of Business and Management, Dr. Azlin Zanariah Binti Bahtar and Dr. Farahiyah Akmal Mat Nawi, who actively participated in the academic exchange sessions.
The event took place in a collaborative academic atmosphere at Universitas AirlanggaFaculty of Economics and Business (FEB). Participants actively engaged in discussions and interactive sessions that reflected a strong enthusiasm for global sustainability issues and cross-border academic learning. The program was attended by faculty leaders, lecturers, and students participating in the Student Inbound program from both Universitas Airlangga and Universiti Teknologi MARA.
In her remarks, the Deputy Dean I of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga, Prof. Dr. Tika Widiastuti, SE, M.Sc., emphasized the importance of international academic exchanges in shaping students' global competencies. She stated that international collaborations such as this program play a crucial role in preparing students to face global challenges while strengthening institutional partnerships.
The opening session continued with remarks from the Head of the Department of Economics, Prof. Rossanto Dwi Handoyo, SE, M.Si., Ph.D., who highlighted the Student Inbound program as a strategic platform for academic knowledge exchange and international engagement. He also encouraged participants to actively contribute to the discussions and the entire learning process.
The academic agenda features two guest lectures focusing on the practical implementation of circular economy principles:
- The first lecture, entitled “From Linear to Circular — Strategic Business Models for Sustainable Value Creation”, was delivered by Fajar Kristanto Gautama Putra, SA, MA. This material provides insights into the transformation of traditional business models towards sustainable value-based systems.
- The second lecture, titled "Implementing a Circular Economy — Innovation, Collaboration, and Performance Measurement," was presented by Sidarta Prassetyo, SS, MA, TESOL. He discussed the importance of innovation, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and measurable performance indicators in supporting sustainable business transformation. Both sessions stimulated interactive discussions and critical thinking among the participants.
In addition to academic exchanges, the Student Inbound 2026 Spring Program contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), by promoting inclusive, equitable, and internationally oriented learning experiences. The program also supports SDG 17 (Partnerships to Achieve the Goals) by strengthening collaboration between universities across borders.
By integrating circular economy principles into academic discourse, the program fosters students' awareness of sustainability, innovation, and responsible business practices—key competencies needed to build resilient human resources ready to face future challenges.
Overall, the Student Inbound 2026 Spring Program went according to plan and successfully strengthened the academic collaboration between Universitas Airlangga and Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. This program reflects FEB UNAIR's ongoing commitment to advancing international education and sustainable development through meaningful global partnerships.