UNAIR NEWS – The Rector of Universitas Airlangga officially inaugurated new Department Heads (Kadep), Program Coordinators (KPS), administrators, and supervisors on Thursday (October 16, 2025) at Garuda Mukti Hall, 5th Floor, Management Building, MERR-C Campus UNAIR.
During the ceremony, Prof. Muhammad Madyan, SE., M.Si., Fin., emphasized that department heads and program coordinators play a vital role in advancing human resource quality and academic excellence across faculties. “Department Heads are the main driving force behind faculty development, while Program Coordinators serve as the front line of academic management—shaping the quality of graduates in each program,” he stated.
Nurturing academic talent
The Rector stressed two main priorities for department leadership. First, department heads must ensure that every lecturer has a clear career roadmap and continuous opportunities for professional growth. He also encouraged young faculty members to pursue doctoral degrees.
“Facilitate participation in workshops and expert training, and guide young lecturers through the academic promotion process. We need to create an ecosystem where every lecturer feels fully supported to grow as a professional educator and researcher,” he said.
The second priority, he continued, is to pursue meaningful and high-impact research and publications. He noted that Universitas Airlangga cannot achieve global recognition without significant research contributions.
“Our collective goal is to shift focus from quantity to quality and impact. Channel departmental resources and funding toward research that produces reputable journal publications, generates intellectual property such as copyrights and patents, and results in tangible innovations that benefit society and industry. These outcomes are the true measures of our academic relevance,” he added.
Prof. Madyan also highlighted that managing faculty resources is a strategic investment. Through fair workload distribution, research support, and thoughtful talent development planning, he believes UNAIR will be able to reach and even exceed its annual performance targets.
In the same address, Prof. Madyan underscored the key role of program coordinators in cultivating Ksatria Airlangga, graduates who are intelligent, ethical, and globally competitive. This responsibility, he said, requires coordinators to be visionary leaders capable of motivating both faculty and students to meet academic goals.
“Let us make every study program a fortress of academic excellence. I am confident that through collaboration among program coordinators, lecturers, and all stakeholders, we can advance as a leading, competitive university that delivers meaningful contributions to the nation,” he remarked.
Strategic role of administrators and supervisors
Alongside academic appointments, the Rector also inaugurated several administrative and supervisory officials who will serve as facilitators and key drivers of the university’s administrative operations. “You must ensure that every policy and service fosters an environment that promotes innovation, creativity, and an entrepreneurial mindset,” he said.
He urged officials to remain proactive, efficient, and adaptable amid global change, helping UNAIR transform into a World Class Entrepreneurial University that delivers real societal impact through research commercialization and startup development.
“This position is not merely a title—it is a mandate and a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to UNAIR’s progress,” he concluded.
Author: Khefti Al Mawalia
