UNAIR NEWS – As his term draws to a close, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, MT, Ak, CA, Rector of Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) for the 2020–2025 period, delivered his final report to the academic community on Monday, June 16, 2025, at Garuda Mukti Hall, MERR-C Campus.
In his remarks, Prof. Nasih expressed deep appreciation to all members of the university. He emphasized that UNAIR’s journey had been far from easy. “My strength throughout this challenging journey has come from your support and prayers,” he said. “I am sincerely grateful for the dedication, contributions, prayers, and affection that have brought UNAIR to this point.”
Prof. Nasih recounted the waves of challenges UNAIR had faced since 2007, starting with its transformation into a State Legal Entity University (PT BHMN), which brought major structural changes and new hurdles. He also noted the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our journey has not been smooth—we’ve had to navigate major storms along the way,” he added.
Milestones and regrets
Under Prof. Nasih’s leadership, UNAIR has climbed to 308th in the QS World University Rankings, making it the fourth-highest ranked university in Indonesia. Additionally, in 2024, UNAIR reached 81st globally in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, ranking second nationally in terms of societal impact.
Despite these milestones, Prof. Nasih acknowledged that unfinished tasks remain. He offered a heartfelt apology for challenges left unresolved during his tenure.
“We offer our most sincere apologies for the work we couldn’t complete. We hope future leadership will continue to move UNAIR forward,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prof. (HCUA) Dr. H. Sunarto, SH, MH, Chair of UNAIR’s Board of Trustees, praised Prof. Nasih’s leadership while highlighting the increasing complexity of future challenges. “I greatly appreciate the rector’s accomplishments during 2020–2025. These results are remarkable and deserve recognition. However, the road ahead will be even tougher—achieving something is often easier than sustaining it,” he remarked.
Author: Khumairok Nurisofwatin
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
