The Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) conferred degrees to 1,408 Bachelor and Applied Bachelor Program graduates during the second graduation ceremony of the 2024/2025 academic year.
The graduates comprised 1,256 from the Bachelor’s and 152 from the Applied Bachelor’s Program, including 28 from the Diploma-to-Applied-Bachelor transfer program.
This graduation ceremony also featured 40 recipients of Bidik Misi or Kartu Indonesia Pintar-Kuliah (KIP-K) scholarships and 34 graduates from the Bachelor’s Program who hail from the 3T regions (the most disadvantaged, outermost, and frontier areas).
The average study period for the Bachelor’s Program was 4 years and 3 months, with one graduate from the Mathematics Study Program achieving a perfect GPA of 4.00.
Furthermore, 55.81% of the graduates earned honors; the average age of the Bachelor’s Program graduates was 23 years and 6 months.
The average study period for the Applied Bachelor’s Program was 4 years and 4 months, with 98.03% of the graduates receiving the “Very Satisfactory” predicate. The highest GPA in this program was earned by a graduate from the Health Information Management Study Program, with a score of 3.91.
The Independent Commissioner of NET TV, Rommy Fibri Hardiyanto, who also serves as the First Deputy Secretary General for Organization at the Central Executive Board of the Gadjah Mada Alumni Family (PP Kagama), was present at this graduation ceremony.
In his speech, Hardiyanto reflected on how the current state of Indonesia resembles the situation when he graduated in 1999. The country faced economic hardship, the dollar exchange rate soared, and thousands of workers were laid off due to the recession.
When he was struggling to find a job, Hardiyanto recalled a quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt: “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” which became his personal mantra for facing any adversity.
“This graduation marks the gateway for all of you to reach the point of your aspirations. Instill in your minds and hearts that you will inherit the future of this nation,” Hardiyanto said.
He also highlighted the vast network of Kagama, spread across Indonesia, as a valuable resource that graduates can tap into for learning opportunities, internships, and professional career advancement.
He added that one of the strengths UGM graduates possess is literacy, not only in reading books but also in understanding situations.
“I hope that with today’s event, we will cross paths again with Kagama, and UGM will forever be a part of you. So, always uphold its good name and be grateful for what you’ve achieved,” said Hardiyanto.
UGM Rector Ova Emilia remarked that despite the government’s budget efficiency measures, higher education institutions remain tasked with producing excellent and competitive graduates.
This responsibility stems from the expectation that competent human resources will drive innovation and research commercialization that benefits society and supports national development programs.
Meanwhile, artificial intelligence (AI) continues to trend in the tech world, with automation infiltrating various sectors, including using AI to assist human tasks.
“The rise of a gig economy, where companies are more inclined to hire contract workers, also poses a challenge for new graduates,” the rector noted.
She emphasized that these current conditions and challenges require graduates to contribute as creative and innovative agents of development in order to face global competition.
She believes that UGM graduates possess competencies characterized by independence, critical thinking, and social responsibility.
These qualities will help them navigate beyond social media’s influence and ensure that UGM graduates continue to uphold the university’s three pillars: a mission for the people, independence, and sustainability.
“With gratitude and pride, I wish all UGM graduates being conferred today to be individuals of integrity and exceptional moral character, equipped to face future challenges,” she concluded.
Nikita Christy Alfeana, the representative for the graduates from the Applied Bachelor Program in the Internet Engineering Technology Study Program, also gave a speech at the ceremony.
For her, the fear of an uncertain future is part of the journey, and she urged her fellow graduates not to fear uncertainty. Alfeana, the founder of Kokamuhi, a community that raises awareness of environmental issues, shared her experience of disappointment after failing the document screening phase for a scholarship at a Japanese university.
However, while studying at UGM, she unexpectedly received an opportunity to participate as a delegate in the Sakura Science Exchange Program in Akashi, an international workshop initiated by the Japanese government to discuss disaster management issues.
“This experience taught me that my past failure was merely a detour to the same dream, but in a more meaningful and insightful way,” Alfeana recalled.
Today, Alfeana continues to develop her Kokamuhi podcast, where she converses with various scientists, including from NASA. One is Jessica Taylor, a physical scientist at NASA Langley Research Center and the principal investigator on several NASA projects.
Alfeana believes that all of this happened because of the courage to take the first step and the support from those around her.
“Opportunities will come if we keep moving forward. Sometimes, we meet people not by coincidence but because there is something we can contribute together. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Congratulations on your graduation, and good luck with your next steps,” she concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Firsto