UNAIR NEWS – The 2025 Airlangga Education Expo (AEE) wrapped up on Sunday (February 9, 2025), but enthusiasm remained undiminished. Thousands of participants gathered at the Airlangga Convention Center (ACC) on UNAIR’s MERR-C Campus, eager for a final opportunity to showcase their achievements before the rector in hopes of securing a coveted golden ticket.
On the event’s final day, UNAIR recognized winners of the Instagram Reels and TikTok video competitions. Additionally, awards were presented in six categories to the most outstanding faculties and unit booths: Most Informative, Most Visitors, Best Service, Most Interactive, and Best Overall Booth at AEE 2025.
Rector appreciation
UNAIR Rector, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, MT, Ak, CA, officially concluded AEE 2025, extending his gratitude to all participants who attended from the first to the final day. He also acknowledged students who traveled from outside East Java and beyond to take part in the event.
During the closing ceremony, the rector invited student council (OSIS) presidents who participated in the golden ticket selection process to join him for a group photo. “This first photo is with the future leaders of Indonesia’s Golden Era in 2045,” he remarked.
Following this, he gathered all students who had applied for the golden ticket for another group photo. Notably, three golden tickets had already been awarded to high-achieving high school students on the first day of AEE.
Insights into Golden Ticket Program
As AEE 2025 drew to a close, Prof. Nasih addressed the 3,000 attendees, offering insights on the selection process. “The SNBP and golden ticket programs are selection processes, not examinations. Unlike graduation exams, where nearly everyone passes, selection processes mean that the number of unsuccessful candidates far exceeds the number of those accepted,” he explained.
“Therefore, do not be disheartened if you are not selected. There will always be opportunities. If not through SNBP or the Golden Ticket Program, there is still SNBT. If not SNBT, then there is the Independent Admission test,” he reassured.
Prof. Nasih also highlighted UNAIR’s increasing popularity, noting that applicant numbers grow annually. The university’s undergraduate admissions capacity ranges between 5,000 and 6,000 students, while total admissions across all levels, from diploma to doctoral programs, stand at approximately 9,000.
“For SNBP, UNAIR’s admission quota is 2,100 students. Statistically, this makes acceptance highly competitive. Those admitted through SNBP are among the nation’s brightest students. I hope you will be among them,” he said.
Golden Ticket categories
Prof. Nasih elaborated on the Golden Ticket Program, emphasizing its prominence at AEE each year. The final list of awardees will be announced in early March, with official confirmation following the SNBP results on or after March 18.
“We will thoroughly evaluate all applications before making selections. Many opportunities remain available for students with non-student council achievements. For today, we are only announcing candidates and nominees,” explained the professor from UNAIR’s Faculty of Economics and Business.
The golden ticket program features two primary categories: the regular category and the priority category. The priority category allows for an expansion of the admission quota. “For instance, if the Faculty of Dental Medicine has a quota of 55 students but awards two priority golden tickets, the final intake will be 57 students,” he clarified.
As the event concluded, Prof. Nasih designated more than a dozen high-achieving students with leadership backgrounds as golden ticket candidates. He hopes this recognition will inspire other students to pursue admission to UNAIR. On the final day of AEE 2025, he announced a total of 16 golden ticket candidates.
Author: Febriana Putri Nur Aziizah
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
