UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) recently held a Work Meeting and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with its department secretaries and study program coordinators (KPS). Over 250 participants, including department secretaries and program coordinators, attended the event held at the Keraton Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Yogyakarta on Sunday, September 1, 2024.
The meeting was attended by UNAIR Rector, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, SE, MT, Ak, and members of the university leadership team. In his opening remarks, Prof. Nasih expressed his gratitude for their exceptional achievements this year. ” Certainly, appreciation is due for the remarkable accomplishments this year. In 2025, we will undoubtedly begin with a solid foundation so that these efforts can continue and, God willing, be successful,” he stated.
Enhancing employability skills
Prof. Nasih also led a discussion focused on the employability of UNAIR graduates and the factors that influence their quality. “We consistently strive to improve the quality of UNAIR graduates. Employability is, of course, a key indicator of a university’s quality,” he explained.
“A high-quality graduate is one who can articulate the outcomes of their final project, possesses critical thinking and a strong sense of curiosity. They should be capable of integrating various variables to produce effective solutions. With systematic thinking skills, many high-caliber graduates will undoubtedly emerge from UNAIR,” he added.
Prof. Nasih emphasized that the responsibility for producing high-quality graduates does not lie solely with the academic programs but involves all supporting entities within the university. He pointed out that various units and institutions at UNAIR are involved in this collective effort.
Vice Rector for Academic, Student, and Alumni Affairs, Prof. Dr. Bambang Sektiari Lukiswanto, explained that several training modules have been developed to improve employability. “We have developed modules to improve graduate quality, and we have coordinated these with the vice deans of each faculty. Our goal is to produce graduates with robust employability skills,” he revealed.
Participants of the Universitas Airlangga Work Meeting during a group photo session (Source: PKIP UNAIR).
Alumni Impact
The event also featured a sharing session led by Prof. Dr. Indra Wijaya Kusuma, a development expert from Universitas Gadjah Mada. He discussed the impact of alumni and the relevance of the career paths of study program graduates.
Prof. Kusuma emphasized the importance of alumni contributions, noting that successful alumni can enhance the quality of education, which in turn benefits future students.
In his concluding remarks, Prof. Kusuma pointed out that graduating on time does not necessarily guarantee immediate employment. “Graduating on time is an excellent accomplishment, but what truly matters afterward is the ability to navigate the professional world. Beyond cognitive abilities, mindset and communication skills are also crucial,” he concluded.
Author: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
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