UNAIR NEWS (UNAIR) has formalized a strategic partnership with PT Salam Pacific Indonesia Lines (SPIL) through a memorandum of understanding signed during the HITEX 2025 exhibition on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. The signing took place at the Airlangga Convention Center (ACC), MERR-C Campus. Rector Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, M.T., Ak., CA and SPIL Operation Director Bambang Gunawan agreed to open a collaborative office at UNAIR.
Prof. Nasih explained that PT SPIL will help connect talent with UNAIR檚 academic community. 淲e檙e creating a bridge攁 hub攁t the ASEEC Building that will serve as SPIL檚 activity center. This will become a point of contact between the company and our academic community, especially our graduates, to contribute and engage, he said.
Tangible benefits for the academic community
He added that the partnership will directly benefit students, faculty, and staff. It will allow UNAIR graduates to align more closely with market needs. 淪PIL can provide input on industry demands, allowing us to address any gaps in our graduates’ readiness, said the senior professor from the Faculty of Economics and Business.
Prof. Nasih emphasized that this collaboration could significantly improve student employability. 淚f our graduates are immediately recruited, that檚 a huge win. We don檛 want them waiting months after graduation攊t檚 discouraging. Ideally, they secure jobs before they even finish, he said.
Expanding industry partnerships
Beyond SPIL, Prof. Nasih mentioned that UNAIR is already a national leader in industrial partnerships. 淲e檙e currently number one in partnerships. We檝e formed hundreds of collaborations with industries, and they檝e all been mutually beneficial, he stated.
Looking ahead, Prof. Nasih said UNAIR will continue to adapt and expand its industry engagement. 淲e welcome industry players to teach on campus, and we檙e prepared to adjust our curriculum accordingly. UNAIR is committed to producing graduates who meet real-world demands and to conducting research that supports industry innovation, he concluded.
Author: Mohammad Adif Albarado
Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
