UNAIR NEWS Research plays a vital role in advancing knowledge, and (UNAIR) continues to strengthen this mission. Among its research centers, the Research Center in Advancing Community Healthcare (REACH) focuses on improving community health through studies, education, and the application of best practices.
Founded in 2021, REACH grew out of UNAIR檚 community and family nursing research groups. Its vision is to become a leading hub for public health innovation, with priorities including health technology development, chronic disease management, infectious disease prevention, and health policy.
淭he center uses a multidisciplinary approach and socio-technical methods, aiming for outcomes such as scholarly publications, intellectual property, research collaborations, and tangible social impact攁ll aligned with UNAIR檚 performance indicators and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said REACH Chair Prof. Ferry Efendi, S.Kep., Ns., M.Sc., Ph.D.
REACH has forged partnerships with national and international institutions, including La Trobe University, University of Malaya, National Cheng Kung University, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Ministry of Health, and BP2MI, among others.
REACH track record
The center actively hosts academic events such as webinars, including sessions on research and publication strategies and discussions on the role of artificial intelligence in platforms like Scopus. Its research output includes 458 citations, an h-index of 7, 75 articles, 12 reviews, four books, and one editorial.
International collaboration remains a key focus. In July, Dr. Khadizah from Universiti Brunei Darussalam visited UNAIR for an academic exchange, producing two joint articles on sociocultural issues and healthcare access. The visit also led to community engagement activities and a webinar titled Enhance Your Research Capacity.
Recently, Prof. Efendi secured a major research partnership with the Volkswagen Foundation. Valued at Rp 25 billion, the project will examine Indonesia檚 policies on sending nurses abroad and their broader implications.
This accomplishment underscores REACH檚 ability to serve as a globally connected research center while delivering results that address Indonesia檚 healthcare priorities.
Author: Afifah Alfina
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
