UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) welcomed a benchmarking visit from Universitas Diponegoro (Undip) on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) at the Amerta Room, 4th floor, Management Building, MERR-C Campus. The visit was attended by the rectors, vice rectors, deans, and heads of relevant work units from both universities. University development strategies, ranging from budget management to research and publication, became the focus of discussion.
UNAIR Rector Prof Dr Muhammad Madyan SE MSi MFin said that 2016 was the year UNAIR began accelerating its achievements. “In 2016, alongside other Legal Entity State Universities (PTN-BH), we were given a target we considered extraordinary: breaking into the world’s top 500. It felt extraordinary because, at the time, we were ranked 700th globally,” he said.
That target went on to motivate UNAIR. In the QS WUR 2022 rankings, UNAIR successfully broke into the world’s top 500, specifically at 465th globally. The ranking has continued to trend upward, and UNAIR currently sits at 276th position globally.
Budget management
Beyond its achievements, Prof Madyan also addressed budget management. Over the past 12 years, UNAIR has succeeded in independently building various facilities and infrastructure. Careful budget management, along with ensuring every expenditure is effective and efficient, has been key to that success.
“What we can share is that, even with the funds available, UNAIR manages its budget as efficiently and effectively as possible. We disburse our budget with full caution, and there must always be clear evidence and clear output,” he explained.
Publications, Prof Madyan added, are also one of the key factors behind UNAIR’s steady climb in global rankings year after year. The research culture built among academics has had a significant impact on shaping UNAIR’s reputation on the global stage.
“In our view, a lecturer, as a professional educator, can improve their welfare through teaching. But lecturers who enjoy research also need to have their welfare guaranteed. As a result, we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of research outputs and publications,” he explained.
In line with UNAIR’s growing research culture, Prof Madyan expressed hope that the benchmarking visit would lead to further collaboration. “I hope Undip can collaborate with UNAIR in the field of research, so that the resulting publications can improve and grow,” he said.
Collaboration opportunities
Undip Rector Prof Dr Suharnomo MSi expressed his appreciation to UNAIR for hosting the benchmarking visit. He said Undip is also very open to collaborating with and learning from UNAIR for the mutual benefit of both institutions.
“We’d like to thank UNAIR for welcoming us. There may still be areas where we fall short, which is why we want to learn, so that what we do for the nation’s future generations can be maximized,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chair of Undip’s Board of Trustees (MWA) and Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education for 2014-2019 Prof Mohamad Nasir MSi Akt PhD also praised UNAIR’s rapid progress. Having served as Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education at the time, he witnessed UNAIR’s journey to its current position firsthand.
“This is exactly why it’s important for us to learn better practices. Hopefully, we can follow in UNAIR’s footsteps,” he said.
He recommended that universities establish mentoring systems with one another. “Mentoring is vital, because it requires a range of strategies. Hopefully, Undip can learn from UNAIR’s experience and build a collaboration,” he said.
Author: Yulia Rohmawati
