More Than 200 UNAND Alumni Unite in Pekanbaru to Drive Job Creation, Innovation, and Sustainable Development

Pekanbaru— 24^th July 2026, Universitas Andalas alumni from diverse professional backgrounds gathered at the 3rd Employer Meeting in Pekanbaru, demonstrating the extensive reach and growing influence of UNAND graduates across industry, government, healthcare, education, business, finance, and community development.

More than 200 Universitas Andalas alumni from diverse professional backgrounds gathered at the 3rd Employer Meeting that was held on Friday at Hotel Pangeran Pekanbaru, reflecting the remarkable reach and influence of UNAND graduates across industry, government, healthcare, education, business, and community development. Their presence formed part of UNAND’s broader strategy to transform the strength of its alumni network into a powerful engine for job creation, entrepreneurship, graduate recruitment, innovation, and sustainable regional growth. Through this strategic forum, UNAND sought not only to prepare graduates for existing employment opportunities, but also to empower them to become leaders, innovators, and job creators who generate lasting impact for society.

The 3rd Employer Meeting also reinforced UNAND’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

The programme featured remarks by the Rector of Universitas Andalas, an Executive Plenary Round Table on talent needs in industry, healthcare, education, and regional development, followed by a Town Hall Meeting, the formulation of follow-up actions, and closing remarks.

The Rector of Universitas Andalas, Dr. Efa Yonnedi, S.E., MPPM., Akt., emphasised that the Employer Meeting was a strategic platform for connecting the university’s academic mission with the realities and future demands of the professional world.

He stated that direct input from alumni and employers was essential to ensure that UNAND’s curricula, graduate competencies, research priorities, and innovations remained relevant to industry, society, and national development. According to the Rector, the university’s progress should not be measured solely by institutional rankings and academic recognition, but also by the employability of its graduates, the number of entrepreneurs and job creators it produces, the utilisation of its research, and the tangible benefits it delivers to society.The Rector also highlighted UNAND’s goal of enabling graduates to secure employment within six months of graduation or to establish businesses and start-ups capable of creating new employment opportunities. During the forum, it was reported that approximately 76 per cent of UNAND graduates had secured employment within their first six months after graduation.

This commitment reflects UNAND’s contribution to SDG 4, through relevant and high-quality education, and SDG 8, through graduate employability, entrepreneurship, productive employment, and inclusive economic growth.

Vice Rector IV of Universitas Andalas, Prof. Henmaidi, S.T., M.Eng.Sc., Ph.D., underlined the strategic role of alumni as bridges between the university and the professional world.

He explained that UNAND alumni have established careers in companies, government institutions, financial services, healthcare organisations, educational institutions, and entrepreneurial ventures. Their knowledge and professional experience provide the university with valuable insights into future skills, technological transformation, workforce expectations, and potential areas for collaboration. Prof. Henmaidi stressed that the outcomes of the Employer Meeting must be translated into concrete programmes with clear responsibilities, timelines, and measurable targets. These programmes could include internships, graduate recruitment, joint research, innovation downstreaming, scholarships, mentoring, guest lectures, and curriculum development. Responding to proposals regarding scholarships for students from Riau, he also expressed UNAND’s openness to exploring cooperation with local governments to expand access to higher education.

The Secretary of Universitas Andalas, Dr. Aidinil Zetra, S.IP., M.A., emphasised that the effectiveness of the Employer Meeting would depend on strong institutional coordination and consistent follow-up.He noted that every recommendation and commitment generated during the forum should be properly documented and translated into an actionable plan involving faculties, study programmes, directorates, alumni networks, government institutions, and industry partners. UNAND is also continuing to integrate its digital services through a single sign-on system and interconnected academic platforms to provide more accessible and efficient services for students, lecturers, staff, and alumni.

The Chair of the EQUITY Programme, Dr. Eng. Muhammad Makky, S.T.P., M.Si., emphasised that the 3rd Employer Meeting was not merely a forum for exchanging perspectives, but a strategic mechanism for transforming the strength of UNAND’s alumni network into measurable institutional and societal impact.

According to Dr. Muhammad Makky, the meeting was also closely connected to the Sustainable Development Goals. Curriculum enhancement, mentorship, and expanded access to education contribute to SDG 4. Internships, recruitment, and entrepreneurship support SDG 8. Collaborative research, commercialisation, and innovation downstreaming advance SDG 9, while cooperation among universities, alumni, governments, industries, and communities reinforces SDG 17.“ The presence of more than 200 Universitas Andalas alumni from diverse professional backgrounds demonstrates that our graduates are not only succeeding in their respective careers, but are also contributing meaningfully to businesses, public institutions, healthcare, education, regional development, and the communities they serve. EQUITY is ultimately about ensuring that university transformation creates broader impact. By connecting alumni experience, employer expectations, academic capacity, and community needs, Universitas Andalas can move beyond institutional achievement and become a stronger catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development,” he concluded.

During the Meeting, representatives of businesses, financial institutions, higher education institutions, professional organisations, and alumni shared their assessments of UNAND graduates. A representative of the Indonesian Employers Association, APINDO, noted that UNAND alumni possess a strong sense of solidarity. Senior alumni were recognised for actively guiding and supporting younger graduates as they entered the workforce. UNAND graduates were also described as resilient and capable of adapting to technological developments.

A representative of the Financial Services Authority, OJK, similarly observed that UNAND graduates are highly competitive, including those working in fields outside their original academic disciplines. Nevertheless, students were encouraged to continue strengthening their English-language proficiency, communication, risk management, leadership, and adaptability.

Participants also encouraged UNAND to regularly update its curricula and strengthen alumni coordination platforms. Such platforms could serve as centres for career information, professional mentoring, competency development, and connections among senior alumni, recent graduates, and employers. The meeting discussed potential cooperation between UNAND and local governments to expand access to higher education for students from Riau.

Representatives of the education sector proposed closer cooperation with UNAND, including outreach programmes for schools, scholarship opportunities, and initiatives supporting quality education.UNAND welcomed the possibility of developing scholarship schemes for students from Riau and expressed its readiness to engage in further discussions with the relevant local governments. This initiative would contribute to SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by widening access to higher education for students from different socioeconomic and geographical backgrounds.

Representatives of Universitas Riau encouraged stronger collaboration with UNAND in education, research, academic staff development, and the shared use of laboratory facilities.

Riau’s abundant natural resources, particularly its palm oil industry, were identified as potential areas for collaborative research, downstream innovation, and product development. Potential collaboration could include joint research, lecturer engagement, doctoral programme development, academic capacity building, and the shared utilisation of specialised laboratory facilities. These initiatives directly support SDG 9, particularly by strengthening research capacity, technological innovation, scientific infrastructure, and the downstream utilisation of research outputs.

Representatives of the Riau Chamber of Commerce and Industry, KADIN, emphasised the importance of cooperation among universities, businesses, and employers’ organisations in promoting entrepreneurship and regional economic growth.

Business representatives from the property and investment sectors also expressed their willingness to host UNAND students for internships and explore other forms of collaboration with the university. Representatives of the capital market sector recommended expanding investment and capital market literacy across UNAND. The university already has a capital market facility that could be further optimised to reach a broader group of students. These opportunities represent practical contributions to SDG 8, as internships, entrepreneurship programmes, recruitment channels, and industry engagement provide students with professional experience while increasing their prospects of securing productive employment.

The 3rd Employer Meeting reinforced the importance of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Challenges relating to education, employment, healthcare, innovation, and regional development cannot be addressed by universities alone. They require sustained collaboration among universities, governments, businesses, industries, healthcare institutions, educational organisations, professional associations, communities, and alumni.

Through the forum, UNAND received strategic recommendations to support curriculum development, academic service improvement, graduate competency enhancement, internship expansion, collaborative research, scholarship development, entrepreneurship, and institutional transformation. The outcomes are expected to be followed up through concrete initiatives involving internships, graduate recruitment, scholarships, curriculum enrichment, joint research, shared laboratory utilisation, innovation downstreaming, business development, professional mentoring, and stronger alumni networks.

By mobilising the collective strength of more than 200 accomplished alumni, Universitas Andalas reaffirmed its determination to produce not only job-ready graduates, but also influential leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and job creators capable of driving sustainable development in Riau, West Sumatra, and Indonesia.

This activity is funded by the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) on behalf of the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology and managed under the EQUITY Program (Contract No.4304/B3/DT.03.08/2025).