HIROSHIMA — Hasanuddin University is the only higher education institution from Indonesia taking part in the 6th University Presidents for Peace Conference, hosted by Hiroshima University (HU) at the Higashi-Senda Campus in Hiroshima, Japan, on 6 August 2026. The forum brought together 53 participants from 17 universities in 11 countries and regions to strengthen the role of universities in building peace and sustainability.
Unhas was represented by Prof. Ir. Suharman Hamzah, S.T., M.T., Ph.D.(Eng.), HSE Cert. (Vice Rector for Partnerships, Internationalization, and Alumni Affairs). The participation places Unhas in a consortium network of universities that share a commitment to strengthening academic contributions to peace and sustainability.
One of the conference’s main agenda items was the reading of the University Presidents for Peace Declaration by Hiroshima University President Mitsuo Ochi. The declaration contains the universities’ shared commitment to building peaceful and sustainable societies through education, research, international collaboration, student exchange, and the development of young talent. It was unanimously agreed by all conference participants from 17 universities in 11 countries and regions.
The conference coincided with the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. The occasion provided a strong historical context for discussions on universities’ responsibility to preserve historical memory, build understanding across nations, and nurture a generation able to respond to differences through dialogue and collaboration.
“For Unhas, this forum is more than 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 difference and stronger in the spirit of collaboration,” said Prof. Suharman.
According to Prof. Suharman, Unhas’s position as a university that grew out of eastern Indonesia, with its diverse society and cultural backgrounds, offers experience that is relevant to the global dialogue on peace and sustainability. As a university, Unhas places the issue of peace in its learning as more than just an idea. This idea needs to be present in how we educate students, develop research, and build cooperation with communities and institutions in other countries.
“Meeting universities from various countries also opens space to broaden academic perspectives and develop forms of cooperation suited to each context. The internationalization of universities is measured not merely by the number of partners but by the quality of interaction and the contributions that emerge from those partnerships,” said Prof. Suharman.
Hiroshima University President Mitsuo Ochi, in opening remarks, emphasized the importance of carrying forward the memory of, and the lessons from, the atomic bombing. Universities play an important role in shaping a generation able to contribute to peace through education, research, and international exchange.
The program began with a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum on 5 August 2026, followed by the Peace Memorial Ceremony and Memorial Service for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb on 6 August 2026. These activities gave participants historical context before they turned to discussions on the role of universities in building peace and sustainability.
At the conference, leaders and representatives of the participating universities introduced their institutions’ characteristics and the various initiatives they have developed in the areas of peace and sustainability. (*/dhs)
Editor : Ishaq Rahman
This article is an English translation of the original Indonesian report.