UNAIR NEWS – The Student Legislative Council (BLM) Universitas Airlangga’s Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) successfully hosted Bicara Soal Politik (BISTIK) 2025, themed “Hope Amid Employment Crisis.” Held on Saturday (Oct. 25, 2025) in Room 6.12 of the Shared Lecture Building, MERR-C Campus, the discussion served as a platform for students to explore labor market challenges and learn strategies to enhance their career readiness.
The event featured two keynote speakers from distinct backgrounds: Dr. Puguh Wiji Pamungkas, M.M., a member of the East Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), and Prof. Dr. Nisful Laila, SE., M.Com., Head of UNAIR’s Career and Alumni Impact Center (PKKA).
UNAIR commitment to career readiness
Prof. Laila addressed employment challenges from the university’s perspective, underscoring UNAIR’s firm commitment to preparing students and alumni for the workforce. She highlighted that the university provides a wide range of support, from training programs and professional certifications to career counseling and biannual job fairs.
“UNAIR is determined to prevent its graduates from becoming unemployed intellectuals. Our goal is a maximum job waiting period of six months and a starting salary at least 1.2 times the provincial minimum wage,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of student initiative in utilizing available resources. Too often, she observed, participants join training sessions merely to meet administrative requirements rather than to genuinely learn. True career readiness, she noted, is reflected in a student’s experience, communication skills, and consistency in building a professional portfolio.
Prof. Laila added that UNAIR continues to expand its partnerships with industries and alumni to broaden career opportunities. These efforts include internships, on-campus recruitment, and individualized career mentoring. “If your résumé is strong, your organizational experience is solid, and you can communicate effectively, opportunities will follow. There’s no need to rely on insider connections,” she concluded.
Evolving nature of work
Opening the dialogue, Dr. Pamungkas discussed the rapid transformation of the modern job market. He urged students to view the employment crisis not merely as a lack of opportunities but as a challenge to improve personal readiness. Basic competencies alone, he explained, are no longer sufficient to survive in today’s fast-changing environment. “With creativity and innovation, along with critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, we can actually create new job opportunities,” he said.
Dr. Pamungkas also elaborated on the 4C framework: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. These, he noted, are not abstract theories but essential practical skills that help individuals adapt and thrive in various circumstances.
“Through my own journey, from building businesses to entering politics, I’ve learned that opportunities often appear when we dare to take risks. Everyone can be trained. You fall, you rise again. No one becomes successful overnight,” he reflected.
Author: Fania Tiara Berliana M
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
