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UNAIR NEWS – “Be the lead actor in driving change!” That was the call from (UNAIR) Rector Prof. Dr. Muhammad Madyan, S.E., M.Si., M.Fin., as he formally welcomed 1,433 new graduate students across doctoral, sub-specialist, master’s, specialist, and professional programs. The inauguration, held Friday (August 8, 2025) at the Garuda Mukti Hall in UNAIR’s Management Office, marked the arrival of a new generation of future scholars and professionals.

“This is not just a continuation of your education. At the graduate level, you must become producers of knowledge, not merely consumers,” Prof. Madyan stressed. The incoming class includes 763 master’s students, 246 doctoral candidates, 68 in professional programs, 313 specialists, and 43 sub-specialists. Women make up 62 percent of the cohort, with students coming from across Indonesia.

Beyond educational institution

Among the new students are two from Palestine, now enrolled in specialist programs at UNAIR’s Faculty of Medicine. They are part of a group of 24 international students, 13 of whom have been awarded the Airlangga Development Scholarship (ADS), reflecting UNAIR’s commitment to expanding higher education access for students from developing nations.

The ceremony also welcomed three students with disabilities. Prof. Madyan said their presence demonstrates that UNAIR does more than talk about inclusion—it practices it. “We celebrate not just the numbers, but the diversity of passion, capability, and ambition. All of you are agents of change,” he said.

Beyond educational institution

The Rector emphasized that graduate study should be more than a path to an academic title—it should serve as a transformative journey. He encouraged students to go beyond refining research skills to create innovative products with real benefits for society and industry.

He also underscored the importance of UNAIR’s guiding principles, Excellence with Morality and its HEBAT values. “We do not aim to produce exceptional graduates without moral character. Honesty, courage, and humility are our core principles,” he said firmly.

Looking ahead, UNAIR aims to nurture scholars who are grounded yet globally minded—intellectuals prepared to address the root causes of society’s most pressing issues.

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Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia