UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) welcomed 9,347 new students as they began their academic journey through Amerta (Angkatan Muda Ksatria Airlangga) 2025. Organized by the UNAIR Student Executive Board (BEM), the two-day orientation took place Monday and Tuesday, August 4–5, 2025, at the Airlangga Convention Center (ACC), MERR-C Campus.
This year’s theme, Merajut Insan Nusantara menjadi Madu Peradaban Mewujudkan Indonesia Berkelanjutan (Weaving People of Archipelago into Honey of Civilization to Build Sustainable Indonesia), was inspired by the diverse origins of the incoming students, who hail from across the nation. Mochammad Afzal Iftikharus Sadat Ramadhan, chair of the Amerta 2025 committee, said the theme reflects a vision of unity and contribution to the country’s future.
“We want to bring together students from different regions as one community of Ksatria Airlangga. Like honey, which serves as a remedy, we hope they will bring solutions to the nation’s challenges and help build a sustainable Indonesian civilization,” Ramadhan said.
Addressing national issues
Amerta 2025 went beyond a traditional campus introduction, adding new elements to foster student engagement. One of the highlights was a Forum Group Discussion (FGD), where participants examined key national issues such as the environment, education, economics, and domestic politics.
The FGD also trained students to develop solutions to strategic challenges and present them in essay form. Ramadhan noted that the top essays would be considered for publication on digital media platforms. “This is also linked to their upcoming coursework. By the time they take the compulsory Fundamental Joint Learning (PDB) modules in their first semester, they will already be comfortable with discussions and presenting academic ideas,” he explained.
Showcasing student talent
The event’s festivities concluded with a Faculty Parade on the second day, as each faculty showcased its unity and identity in a procession inside the ACC before students moved on to their faculty-specific orientations.
Also featured was Harmoni Kreasi, where groups of new students, called Garuda teams, performed a range of artistic displays including modern dance, singing, and theater. Ramadhan said the performances were aimed at uncovering students’ talents while building stronger bonds among them.
Ramadhan expressed hope that Amerta 2025 would serve as a meaningful starting point in the students’ academic lives. “I hope they feel proud to be part of UNAIR and develop the determination to keep learning throughout their studies, becoming independent individuals who embody the ‘honey of civilization’ our theme represents,” he said.
Author: Nur Khovivatul Mukorrobah
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
