Universitas Negeri Surabaya (Unesa) is an integral part of the long journey of national education. Having produced approximately 80,000 graduates, Unesa boldly positions itself as a higher education provider capable of planning development to provide quality education, evaluating itself to prepare graduates with national competitiveness and an entrepreneurial spirit, and managing all its activities within a healthy organizational mechanism.
Unesa must be autonomous as a Government Educational Legal Entity (BHPP), as mandated by Law Number 20/2003 concerning the National Education System (UU Sisdiknas).
Unesa's history is inseparable from the Surabaya Teachers' Training College (IKIP Surabaya), which began around 1950. It began with B-I and B-II courses in Chemistry and the Exact Sciences, utilizing facilities and infrastructure, including classrooms and laboratories from the Dutch educational institution, Hoogere Burger Schol (HBS). These courses were held in Surabaya to meet the need for teachers at the junior high and senior high school levels. These courses included: (a) Chemistry B-I and B-II, (b) Science B-I and B-II, (c) English B-I, (d) German B-I, (e) Engineering B-I, (f) Physical Education B-I, (g) Economics B-I, (h) Commerce B-I, and (i) Aircraft Science B-I. In 1957, the B-I courses were grouped into two: (1) General B-I courses, covering English and German, and (2) Vocational B-I courses, covering Chemistry, Science, Economics, Commerce, Engineering, Physical Education, and Aircraft Science. These courses ran until 1960.
To eliminate the dualism between B-I and B-II courses, with graduates not earning degrees, and the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) producing graduates with degrees, MPRS Decree No. Based on Presidential Decree No. 11/MPRS/1960, these two courses were integrated into the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), which trained secondary school teachers. Subsequently, based on Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture No. 6/1961, dated February 7, 1961, the institution was integrated into a faculty within the FKIP of Airlangga University, Malang Branch, and renamed FKIP Airlangga University, Surabaya Branch.
In 1962, with the establishment of the Teacher Training Academy (APG), which later became the Teacher Training Institute (IPG), the dualism resurfaced. To eliminate this dualism, Presidential Decree No. 1/1963, dated January 3, 1963, integrated IPG with FKIP to form the Teacher Training and Education Institute (IKIP). With this integration, the FKIP of Airlangga University in Malang changed its status to IKIP Malang Pusat on May 20, 1964, and the FKIP of Airlangga University, Surabaya Branch, became IKIP Malang Surabaya Branch. This situation persisted until December 19, 1964.
Based on Decree of the Minister of Higher Education and Science No. 182/1964, dated December 19, 1964, IKIP Surabaya officially became independent, led by a presidium. This date was designated as the birth date of IKIP Surabaya, which is commemorated annually as IKIP Surabaya's anniversary. In 1964, IKIP Surabaya had five faculties: (1) the Faculty of Education (FIP), (2) the Faculty of Social Sciences Teaching (FKIS), the Faculty of Arts and Literature Teaching (FKSS), (4) the Faculty of Exact Sciences Teaching (FKIE), and (5) the Faculty of Engineering Teaching (FKIT). On March 1, 1977, the Sports College (STO) integrated with IKIP Surabaya based on the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia. No. 042/O/1977 dated February 22, 1977, and became the Faculty of Sports Science Teacher Training (FKIK), the sixth faculty managed by IKIP Surabaya. Based on Indonesian Government Regulation No. 27/1981, IKIP Surabaya had six faculties: (1) Faculty of Education (FIP), (2) Faculty of Language and Arts Education (FPBS), (3) Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Education (FPMIPA), (4) Faculty of Social Sciences Education (FPIPS), (5) Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education (FPTK), and (6) Faculty of Sports and Health Education (FPOK).
With the mandate to expand its mandate, IKIP Surabaya was transformed into Unesa based on Presidential Decree No. Number 93/1999 dated August 4, 1999, managing six faculties: (1) Faculty of Education (FIP), (2) Faculty of Language and Literature (FBS), (3) Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), (4) Faculty of Social Sciences (FIS), (5) Faculty of Engineering (FT), and (6) Faculty of Sports Science (FIK).
Currently, Unesa manages 163 study programs, both educational and non-educational, with diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels consisting of undergraduate and doctor. Because Unesa's journey cannot be separated from IKIP Surabaya, Unesa's birthday still uses Surabaya IKIP's anniversary. There are 12 faculties and postgraduate school in Unesa:
- Faculty of Education.
- Faculty of Language & Art.
- Faculty of Mathematics & Natural Sciences.
- Faculty of Social & Political Science.
- Faculty of Engineering.
- Faculty of Sports & Health Science.
- Faculty of Economics & Business
- Faculty of Medical Science
- Faculty of Vocational Studies
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Psychology
- Faculty of Food Security
- Postgraduate School
