Unhas represents Indonesia at Peace Conference in Hiroshima

Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas) was the only Indonesian university to take part in the 6th University Presidents for Peace Conference, hosted by Hiroshima University at its Higashi-Senda Campus in Hiroshima, Japan, on 6 August 2026. The forum brought together 53 participants from 17 universities across 11 countries and regions to strengthen the role of higher education institutions in building peace and sustainability. Unhas Vice Rector for Partnership, Internationalisation, and Alumni Affairs, Prof Suharman Hamzah, stated that the involvement places Unhas within a consortium network of universities building a shared commitment to bolster academic contributions towards peace and sustainability. He explained that a key agenda item was the reading of the University Presidents for Peace Declaration by Hiroshima University President Mitsuo Ochi. The declaration contains a joint commitment by universities to build a peaceful and sustainable society through education, research, international collaboration, student exchanges, and the development of young talent. It was unanimously agreed upon by all conference participants. The conference coincided with the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing tragedy. “For Unhas, this forum is more than just a meeting between universities. We see how historical experience can be translated into learning, research, and education to build a generation that is more open to differences and stronger in the spirit of collaboration,” he said. According to Prof Suharman, Unhas’s position as a university growing from the Eastern Indonesia region, with its diverse communities and cultural backgrounds, provides relevant experience in global dialogues on peace and sustainability. He added that encounters with universities from other countries open space to broaden academic perspectives and develop forms of cooperation suited to each context. “Internationalisation of higher education is not solely measured by the number of partners, but by the quality of interaction and the contributions born from those partnerships,” Prof Suharman continued. In his opening remarks, Hiroshima University President Mitsuo Ochi stressed the importance of passing on the memory and lessons from the atomic bombing, noting that universities play a vital role in shaping generations capable of contributing to peace through education, research, and international exchange.