With a perfect GPA of 4.00, Ilham Budi Kurniawan (34) was named the top graduate of the Master of Business Administration program at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (MBA FEB UGM).
He smiled as he stepped up to receive his diploma at the 2024/2025 academic year graduation ceremony, held on Thursday (Jan. 23) at Grha Sabha Pramana.
Kurniawan completed his program at FEB UGM in 1 year and 4 months, whereas the average duration of study for the program is 2 years and 2 months.
With a professional background in the Human Resources Bureau of the Ministry of Finance, Kurniawan pursued further education to address the gaps in his competencies.
After completing an associate degree in Accounting at the State College of Accountancy (STAN) and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting at Hasanuddin University, he worked for over a decade focusing on human resource management.
He eventually enrolled in the MBA FEB UGM program, concentrating on Human Resources and Organization.
“I hope this aligns with my future goal of becoming a human resource analyst for the Ministry of Finance,” he explained.
Kurniawan admitted that his previous educational background was quite different from his work tasks. Therefore, he applied a learning-by-doing approach while working.
Studying at FEB UGM, he found it helpful to review whether his work practices aligned with the theories he learned in class.
Reflecting on his experience at MBA FEB UGM, Kurniawan emphasized that the curriculum is highly relevant to the professional world.
The curriculum focuses on theory and requires students to engage in practical experiences, such as immersion programs and social projects.
“At the time, I worked with a small business in Gunungkidul and participated in a social project at an elementary school in Bantul. So, my studies weren’t just about learning theory; I also gained many experiences and soft skills, especially in entrepreneurship and human resource management,” he shared.
When Kurniawan began his studies at UGM, he initially lacked confidence. He admitted he wasn’t used to giving presentations or expressing his ideas.
“Having to present almost every day while studying at MBA FEB UGM boosted my confidence. My communication and negotiation skills improved because I got used to practicing them,” he said.
The final project was particularly challenging for him. He felt that there were many subjects he hadn’t mastered, and one of the biggest obstacles was mastering the statistics course.
Additionally, he had to learn quantitative research methods from scratch. This was vastly different from his experience during his associate and bachelor’s programs, where he primarily used qualitative analysis.
“Of course, I needed other people to share knowledge with, so I utilized the discussion rooms to share and learn from my classmates. Fortunately, the lecturers were very supportive; they were always open to answering questions whenever we had questions,” Kurniawan explained.
Although his study routine of reading books and journals and giving presentations was exhausting, Kurniawan remained motivated. He sought a support system to help him maintain his enthusiasm.
“Humans are social beings who cannot live alone. In my opinion, having a support system is essential, whether it’s parents, friends, or the surrounding environment, both in college and at work,” he added.
Kurniawan also credited the culture of Yogyakarta and UGM with making him enjoy his time studying there. The fellowship among students was a new experience for him.
“My classmates were generous with their knowledge. They were very open to sharing, and there was no individualism. This was a memorable experience for me—supporting one another and competing healthily through our achievements,” he said.
Reflecting on his success, Kurniawan offered some tips for academic achievement. He emphasized the importance of building good relationships with everyone, including senior and junior lecturers and classmates.
“There is a wide range of expertise at MBA FEB UGM, so some students excel in certain fields while others may not. From here, I had many discussions and knowledge exchanges with them,” he explained.
Kurniawan always tried to maintain a positive mindset to help him think mindfully. He learned not to push himself too hard by focusing on what he could control and not forcing himself into situations beyond his control.
“In life, I’ve learned that there are things within my control and things beyond my control. I try to maximize what I can control and ignore what I can’t. If I focus too much on things beyond my control, I get burned out and lose focus on studying,” he elaborated.
He still remembers taking the Strategic Management course at the start of his studies. Dr. Rangga Almahendra, the lecturer, gave him valuable insight.
“Life is not just about chasing dreams but also about leaving a legacy and being beneficial to others,” he recalled.
Reporter: FEB UGM/Shofi Hawa Anjani & Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Author: Agung Nugroho
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya