UNAIR NEWS – Nadiem Makarim, the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, extended a warm welcome to new students of Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR). His message was delivered during the university’s New Student Inauguration Ceremony on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. This event is part of the New Student Orientation Program (PKKMB).
“To the new UNAIR students whom I hold in high regard, I welcome you to a new phase of life—one filled with dynamic experiences and the challenges of university life,” Nadiem Makarim said in his address.
Although unable to attend in person at the UNAIR’s Airlangga Convention Center MERR-C Campus, Minister Makarim shared his congratulations and important advice through a brief video message. He highlighted the importance of fully developing one’s potential during the college years.
“University life is the best time to explore and develop your potential and identity. It is the perfect moment to take bold steps and embark on new explorations,” he remarked.
Tapping into one’s potential during college is essential preparation for facing the complexities of life beyond the university. As Minister, Makarim assured the new students numerous opportunities are available through the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology.
“There are now even more opportunities open to you with the Merdeka Belajar program, which in the past five years has granted Indonesian students the right to pursue learning experiences beyond the confines of the campus,” Makarim stated.
UNAIR new students share stories
Representing thousands of new students, Vania Winola from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) and Christian Keysha Putra Simanungkalit from the Faculty of Dental Medicine (FKG) shared their stories about their path to being accepted into UNAIR.
Vania, a content creator, expressed her motivation to deepen her knowledge in the field of communication, particularly in media studies. This aspiration led her to choose the Communication Studies program at UNAIR.
“Having been active in social media for four years, I chose UNAIR’s Communication Studies to strengthen my theoretical understanding of communication. Why UNAIR? Because I found that the Communication program at UNAIR offers extensive resources for studying media in depth,” Vania explained.
Christian, on the other hand, revealed that he had set his sights on UNAIR as his top choice for a public university from the start, drawn by its strong reputation in health sciences, particularly in Dental Medicine.
From the start, I wanted to enroll in UNAIR because I knew that UNAIR’s Faculty of Dental Medicine is outstanding in terms of accreditation and facilities. Whether through the SNBP, SNBT, or independent selection, my first choice was always UNAIR’s Faculty of Dental Medicine,” he revealed.
Author: Syifa Rahmadina
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
