UNAIRNEWS – In a solemn ceremony, the Chairman of the UNAIR Board of Trustees, Prof. (HCUA) Dr. H. Sunarto, S.H., M.H., officially inaugurated Prof. Dr. Muhammad Madyan, SE, M.Si., M.Fin. as the 14th Rector of Universitas Airlangga for the 2025–2030 term. The inauguration, held Tuesday (June 17, 2025) at the Garuda Mukti Hall on UNAIR’s MERR-C campus, marked the beginning of a new chapter in the university’s leadership, emphasizing educational transformation and strategic contributions to national development.

UNAIR and Asta Cita: Advancing shared national vision

In his inaugural address, Prof. Madyan underscored that Universitas Airlangga must not isolate itself as an ivory tower of academia, but instead evolve into a catalyst for social change and national progress. Addressing the audience of invited guests and academic colleagues, he expressed a firm commitment for UNAIR to align itself with the goals of Indonesia’s Asta Cita national vision. “Universitas Airlangga must take a more active role—not merely producing graduates, but delivering solutions,” he stated.

Prof. Madyan outlined a continuation of the mission as an entrepreneurial university, an initiative introduced in the previous administration. Through this framework, UNAIR aims to become a social entrepreneurship ecosystem—one capable of reducing unemployment and promoting national economic independence.

Students at the core

A major highlight of Prof. Madyan’s address was the emphasis on positioning students at the center of the university’s mission. “Students are not just learners. They are the key players who must be given ample space to innovate, create, and develop into intellectuals with strong character,” he said.

He envisions UNAIR as a “home of intellectualism”—a space that is not only academically rigorous but also socially relevant. A healthy, inclusive, and collaborative academic atmosphere, he added, will be a foundational priority.

Quoting the Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him, “The best among you are those who bring the most benefit to others,” Prof. Madyan called on all university stakeholders to work together in steering UNAIR’s transformation. “I fully recognize the weight of this responsibility. Yet I believe that through collective commitment, UNAIR will move forward with excellence, independence, dignity, and meaningful impact,” he concluded.

Author: Sintya Alfafa

Editor: Yulia Rohmawati