Khofifah Encourages Unair Alumni to Strengthen Global Networks
Khofifah Indar Parawansa, Chair of the Central Board of IKA Universitas Airlangga (Unair), has encouraged the alumni association to strengthen cross-sector and cross-border networks in order to open strategic collaborations and increase alumni contributions to regional development up to the global level.
“The point is that we keep planting, planting, watering, watering. God willing, in time we will harvest. If we are not the ones who harvest, then surely someone else will harvest, meaning that our presence and our work will, God willing, provide benefits,” said Khofifah in a statement received in Surabaya on Thursday.
The woman who also serves as Governor of East Java assessed that the IKA Unair West Kalimantan Provincial Gathering Forum in Pontianak was not merely a social gathering, but a strategic space for exchanging ideas, building collaboration, and presenting development solutions. During her visit to West Kalimantan earlier this week, Khofifah took the time to attend the gathering forum.
According to her, alumni involvement can begin with opening cooperation opportunities between East Java and the regions where alumni are located. This synergy is considered to have the potential to strengthen networks while opening better development opportunities in both regions.
Khofifah invited Unair alumni in West Kalimantan to actively take roles in various sectors, including studying and replicating East Java’s good development practices that suit the needs of the local area.
“To achieve this is certainly not easy, but not easy does not mean impossible. The ecosystem and culture must be built and shaped so that everyone can share the same spirit for development progress,” she said.
During the forum, alumni also conveyed aspirations regarding career development for new graduates.
Responding to this, Khofifah said IKA Unair has prepared support in the form of competency testing, advocacy, facilitation for prospective state civil apparatus (CASN) preparation, internship programmes, and career development abroad through IKA Unair’s international branches.
Khofifah also highlighted Unair’s international achievements, which ranked 276th in the QS World University Rankings this year, up from 287th the previous year, as well as ninth in the world in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025.
She assessed that these achievements could not be separated from alumni contributions through graduate reputation and various social activities that strengthen the positive image of the alma mater at both national and international levels.