[Unpad Media Channel] A lecturer and researcher from Universitas Padjadjaran’s Off-Campus Study Program (PSDKU) in Pangandaran, Alexander M. A. Khan, is selected as one of 19 participants from eight countries across Asia and Africa to attend the international training program “Sea Level Rise and Its Impact on Coastal Zones under Climate Change”, that is being held in Tianjin, China, from May 20th to 29th, 2025.
Alexander emphasized that the knowledge and experience gained during the training will be highly valuable in enhancing teaching, research, and community service initiatives in coastal areas of Pangandaran. His participation also reflects PSDKU Unpad’s concrete contribution to supporting sustainable development at both national and international levels.
Organized by the UNESCO IOC Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA) in collaboration with the National Marine Data and Information Service (NMDIS) of the People’s Republic of China, the training aimed to strengthen scientific capacity and international collaboration in addressing the challenges of sea level rise (SLR) amid climate change.
One of the keynote speakers, Professor Long Cao from Zhejiang University, explained how shifting monsoon patterns caused by global warming contribute to sea level dynamics in various coastal regions of Asia. Meanwhile, Professor Weidong Yu from Sun Yat-Sen University discussed the social and ecological impacts of increasingly extreme ocean waves, particularly on economically and environmentally vulnerable coastal communities.
These sessions broadens participants’ perspectives on the importance of understanding both the scientific and social dimensions of climate change. Throughout the training, participants—including Alexander—formulates several key recommendations, such as the need for science-based adaptation policies, investments in green infrastructure and adaptive marine technologies, enhance community participation in coastal protection, and support for cross-border collaborative research.
Indonesia’s active participation through Unpad reflects the country’s strong commitment to addressing the global climate crisis. The training serves as a strategic platform to enhance Indonesia’s human resource capacity, particularly in adopting the latest approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation in coastal regions.
Through this international forum, Indonesia, and Unpad in particular, has the opportunity to expand its collaborative network with various Asian countries and strengthen regional cooperation in addressing climate challenges in a collective and sustainable manner.
Unpad PSDKU’s involvement in this international training not only reinforces the global role of Indonesian academia but also highlights the critical contribution of higher education institutions in responding to pressing strategic issues such as climate change.
