UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) recently hosted an official visit from the Minister of National Development Planning and the Head of Statistics Indonesia (BPS), accompanied by their teams. The delegation was received in the Plenary Room of the Rectorate Building, 4th floor, MERR-C Campus Management Office, on Saturday (July 12, 2025). The visit reflects growing synergy between the government and higher education institutions in supporting national development and strengthening the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi).
Advancing global recognition
UNAIR Rector Prof. Dr. Muhammad Madyan, SE, M.Si., M.Fin and university leadership extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation. In his remarks, Prof. Madyan highlighted the university’s recent milestones and global recognition. “UNAIR continues to strengthen its global presence. In the latest QS World University Rankings, UNAIR is placed among the world’s top 287 universities. This demonstrates international acknowledgment of our impact through the Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi,” he said.
Prof. Madyan, a senior professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, noted that these achievements signify UNAIR’s growing influence and contributions. Notably, in the 2025 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, UNAIR ranked 9th globally and secured the top position in Asia.
He also emphasized the university’s ongoing commitment to translating research into industry applications, aiming to expand the reach of its innovations to benefit society at large.
Collaborating for national growth
Minister of National Development Planning Prof. Dr. Ir. Rachmat Pambudy, MS, commended UNAIR’s accomplishments and underscored the importance of university partnerships in national planning efforts. As Head of BAPPENAS, he stated that UNAIR is an ideal partner in shaping Indonesia’s development strategy.
“I propose the idea of creating a ‘compass from campus.’ Universities should guide us in directing Indonesia’s development path. Historically, we succeeded when higher education institutions closely collaborated with the government,” he explained.
Supporting this approach, BPS Head Dr. Ir. Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, MT, shared that her agency is actively working with universities nationwide. One key initiative is the establishment of Statistical Corners (Pojok Statistik) across campuses. “We’ve set up 166 Statistical Corners nationwide, including 55 in East Java. However, UNAIR hasn’t joined yet, so we’re eager to build that collaboration here,” she said.
The initiative aims to enhance students’ statistical literacy and empower them to analyze and apply BPS data. “We want students to work with data not only from economic sectors but also from areas like agriculture and industry. Our goal is to make these resources valuable for student research,” she added.
She also opened discussions for future academic partnerships, including student exchanges and dual-degree programs. “We operate a statistical education institute, and we’d like to explore opportunities for joint programs, such as student exchanges or double degrees,” she stated.
Through these collaborations, UNAIR is expected to play a key role in supporting national development. In working alongside the government, the university aims to deliver tangible benefits to the broader community.
Author: Yulia Rohmawati
