UNAIR NEWS – East Java Student Talent Competition 2026 officially opened at Airlangga Convention Center (ACC), Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), on Saturday, April 4, 2026. The opening ceremony drew thousands of high achieving students, university leaders, heads of education offices, and representatives from related institutions.
East Java Governor, Khofifah Indar Parawansa attended the event and formally inaugurated the program. Universitas Airlangga Rector Prof. Dr. Muhammad Madyan, SE, MSi, MFin, and The Vice Rector for Academic, Student Affairs, and Alumni Prof. Mochammad Amin Alamsjah, Ir, MSi, PhD, were also present. “Thank you, Prof. Madyan and Vice Rector of Universitas Airlangga. I hope all prospective Universitas Airlangga students here can achieve their aspirations,” Parawansa said.
The Chair of Universitas Airlangga Alumni Association (IKA) expressed hope that this year’s competition would produce talented students. “I hope East Java Student Talent Competition 2026 will produce talented students, not only at the provincial level but also at national and international levels,” she said.
She also noted that the event coincided with preparations for The New Student Admission System (SPMB) and the launch of a housing renovation program for education staff.
Platform for student competence and talent
Special Staff to the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tjitjik Srie Tjahjandarie, PhD, also attended the event. She said the competition serves as a gateway for nurturing high achieving students to enter achievement-based admission pathways at universities.
She highlighted collaboration with PUSPRESNAS in preparing prospective high-achieving university students. “This collaboration will lead to talent-based scholarships for students who meet the criteria. We hope this initiative will produce talented individuals at both national and international levels,” said the FST Universitas Airlangga alumna.
She also pointed to an increase in participation in this year’s National Science Olympiad (OSN) as a sign of greater school involvement in talent development. “This shows that schools are beginning to recognize their role in building students’ achievement records as one of the considerations for university admission through the SNBP pathway,” she said.
Author: Amelia Farah Putri Iswara
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
