UNAIR NEWS – After reaching the 308th spot in last year’s QS World University Rankings (QS WUR), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has made a significant leap, climbing to 287th as of Thursday, June 19, 2025. “This achievement affirms UNAIR’s strength as a resilient, adaptive, and globally competitive institution,” said Rector Prof. Dr. Muhammad Madyan, SE, M.Si., M.Fin., during a press conference.
This year’s advancement places UNAIR firmly within the world’s top 300 universities. “UNAIR has jumped 21 places—from 308 to 287 according to QS. This marks the highest position the university has ever attained in the history of our participation in the ranking,” he added.
Soaring achievement
UNAIR’s rise over the past six years has been nothing short of remarkable. In 2020, the university was ranked in the 651–700 bracket. Since then, it has consistently progressed, breaking into the Top 400 by 2023 and, for the first time in 2025, reaching the Top 300. This steady upward trajectory reflects the university’s accelerated growth over the past five years.
“The journey to the global Top 300 has not been an easy or overnight success. It’s the outcome of long-term strategy, collaborative effort, and the support and prayers of the entire academic community,” said Prof. Madyan.
He noted that one of the key drivers of this achievement has been the significant rise in academic publications. “Back in 2015, our Scopus-indexed publications were only around 140 per year. Just five years later, we surpassed 3,200 annually. This publication surge has greatly influenced our academic performance, including a rise in the number of full professors.”
Prof. Madyan emphasized the importance of strong academic quality, international collaboration, and the relevance of graduates in achieving such milestones. He also highlighted UNAIR’s exceptional performance in the employer reputation indicator—an assessment based on industry perception of graduate quality.
“In terms of employer reputation, UNAIR now ranks 78th globally, placing us in the top 100. It shows that our graduates are viewed as competent, work-ready, and highly competitive on the global stage,” said the professor from the Faculty of Economics and Business.
Gratitudes
During the press conference, Prof. Madyan also extended his heartfelt appreciation to the entire academic community for their dedication, integrity, and hard work in elevating UNAIR’s international standing. “I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof. Nasih for his strong and transformative leadership, which laid the foundation for this significant achievement,” he said.
He further explained that the university’s success is a continuation of past leadership efforts, rooted in shared values, innovation, excellence, and service. “This achievement belongs to all of us—faculty members, staff, students, alumni, and strategic partners, both nationally and internationally,” he affirmed.
Prof. Madyan concluded by emphasizing that this milestone is not the final goal, but rather a reflection of internal progress. “Rankings are a mirror of consistent and sustainable internal processes. They are not the end, but a reflection. The real strength lies in our contributions to science, humanity, and civilization,” he concluded.
Author: Febriana Putri Nur Aziizah
Editor : Ragil Kukuh Imanto
