Students of Universitas Muhamadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Sumandi (an Economics student of batch 2013), attained the winner of scientific paper and essay of the fourth Public Health Competition at University of Jember (UNEJ). He achieved a prize accounted 1.5 billion rupiahs. His essay analyzing roles of Indonesian youth in succeeding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The competition is an annual event, and this year focused on ‘Young Generation Contribution in Using Demographic Dividend to SDGs 2030, as the theme. “The competition was organized by Research and Analysis Club (LENTERA) of Public Health Faculty of University of Jember. It was also to commemorate National Health Month of Jember 2016/2017.
In an interview on Monday (21/11), Sumandi expressed, “UMY became one of ten finalists among University of Indonesia, University of Airlangga (two students), University of Padjadjaran, Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS), University of Gadjah Mada, Poltekes Kemenkes Surakarta, Universitas President, and Politeknik Negeri kember. Alhamdulillah, UMY finished the first place, UI obtained the runner, and UNPAD got the second runner up,” he mentioned.
“I could this achievement due to the encouragement of my parents, my lecturer Mr. Dimas Bagus Wiranta Kusuma, and my friends of Group of Economic Students for Future Indonesia Development (GESFID) of Economic and Business Faculty of UMY. I also thank to Vice Dean II Mr. Rizal Yaya supporting me to compete,” he stated.
“I would like to encourage my friends to dare to compete with state university students. We, from a private university, possess the same ability as them. We often underestimate ourselves and feel our competence is not as good as the students’. This competition shows that there is no different ability between state and private university students,” he boosted.
“As a ‘muda mendunia’ university, students may not be GPA-oriented. They should find environment to enhance their hard and soft skills so that they can cope with the real competition after graduating,” he suggested.
