Students from the Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM) at Universitas Gadjah Mada have once again achieved success at the national level. A student team consisting of John Oliver Home from the Geological Engineering program (Class of 2023), Rosita Susanti Lestari Ayu from the Geological Engineering program (Class of 2024), and Muhammad Zidan from the Geophysics program (Class of 2023) secured the position of Second Winner in the Student Debate Competition at IPA Convex 2026, held on May 20–22 at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), Tangerang, Banten.
The debate competition, which was part of the Indonesian Petroleum Association Convention and Exhibition (IPA Convex) 2026, brought together students from various universities to discuss strategic issues in Indonesia’s energy sector. In this year’s competition, the UGM team presented arguments on oil and gas transmission and the challenges of energy management in Indonesia.
The achievement was particularly significant for the team because all members came from engineering and science backgrounds rather than the social sciences and humanities disciplines commonly associated with debate competitions.
John revealed that the greatest challenge they faced was adapting their technical expertise to a competitive debate format.
“We are accustomed to thinking technically and relying on data in geology and geophysics. When entering a debate competition, we had to learn how to present arguments systematically, persuasively, and in a way that remains easy to understand,” he said on Saturday (May 30).
Rosita admitted that she and her teammates did not initially expect to reach the final round, considering that many participants had extensive debate experience and backgrounds in the social sciences and humanities. However, through persistence and more intensive preparation, they studied technical analyses and data to strengthen their arguments. Teamwork also played a crucial role in helping them advance to the final round.
“We complemented one another. Some focused on strengthening the technical substance, while others explored regulations and energy policy issues more deeply, allowing us to build comprehensive arguments,” she added.
Zidan also noted that the competition provided valuable experience by challenging engineering students not only to understand technological aspects but also to communicate ideas critically.
“In the energy sector, technical skills alone are not enough. We must also be able to explain solutions to the public, industry stakeholders, and policymakers. This competition trained us to think more comprehensively,” he said.
He added that the topic of oil and gas transmission is particularly important because it is directly linked to national energy security and equitable energy distribution across Indonesia.
This achievement demonstrates that UGM students with engineering and science backgrounds excel not only in academic and technical capabilities but also in competing at the national level in communication, argumentation, and critical thinking.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Team Documentation