KISE – In support of the 2024 International Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program, the International Office and Executive Secretariat (KISE) proudly organized a pre-departure ceremony for 21 students selected as awardees. Held on August 13, 2024, at the Arjuno Room of UPN “Veteran” East Java’s Rectorate Building, the event began the students’ exciting academic journey. These awardees will represent the university and Indonesia at international institutions, bringing a sense of pride to UPN “Veteran” East Java as they embark on this significant opportunity to enhance its global presence.
The event featured the send-off of students who will participate in various prestigious programs, ranging from student exchanges through IISMA and ICT schemes to community service through the International KKN and MRPTNI Humanitarian Project. These students will be heading to renowned universities across Asia and Europe. Their participation in these programs reflects their achievements and highlights UPN “Veteran” East Java’s growing influence on global education.
The event began with a greeting from the Head of the International Office and Executive Secretariat (KISE), Mr. Indrawan Jatmika, S.IP., M.A., who delivered a detailed report on the names of the awardees from the six MBKM schemes. Attended by representatives from LPPM and LP3M, he expressed his hopes for the awardees and the university, emphasizing the importance of gaining recognition for the programs they will undertake.
The event was graced by UPN “Veteran” East Java’s Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Akhmad Fauzi, MMT., IPU, along with Vice Rector 2, Dr. Sukendah, MSc, and Vice Rector 3, Dr. Lukman Arif, M.Si, who each offered their support through words of gratitude and advice to the awardees. In her speech, Vice Rector 2 emphasized the importance of upholding the university’s core values of integrity, hard work, and responsibility. Vice-Rector 3 provided additional guidance on mental and academic preparedness, encouraging the awardees to be ready for any challenges they might face during the program.
Beyond offering moral encouragement, Akhmad Fauzi emphasized that the opportunity awaiting the awardees is a significant achievement that should be maximized by building and expanding networks. “Build networks and form connections over the next semester; networking is key to advancing your future careers. We hope this experience serves as a foundation for you to pursue master’s and doctoral studies abroad with scholarships,” he stated. He also expressed pride in the 21 awardees, noting that this number represents a 100 percent increase from the previous year. He added his hope that, in the future, more students will follow this path, further expanding UPN “Veteran” East Java’s contributions on the international stage.
The ceremony was attended by prominent university officials, including study program coordinators from various faculties whose students participated in the International MBKM program. Their presence symbolized their commitment to supporting the awardees and reflected the broader university community’s dedication to ensuring the program’s success.
In addition to university representatives, the event included the awardees’ parents, who joined the ceremony via Zoom. Their participation allowed them to witness this important milestone and engage directly with the university. Several parents had the opportunity to ask questions about the program and express gratitude to the university for providing this remarkable opportunity for their children.
Several awardees shared their excitement about their achievements and offered valuable advice to those aspiring to follow in their footsteps. Pangeran Dega, an awardee from the IISMA-E program at Melbourne University, emphasized the importance of thorough preparation, particularly for programs like IISMA-E that require a business plan. “I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be an awardee because I have been preparing since the beginning of the year. It’s not the complicated selection process, but the preparation in a relatively short time,” Dega explained. He added, “I recommend keeping it simple and realistic for the business plan.”
Created by: Davina Salfitrianda (IO UPNVJT Volunteer)
Editor: IO UPNVJT