Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Undergraduate students from the Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM) have once again made a proud achievement at the national level. This time, the Yujiem team won first place in the 2024 KIMBAP National Paper Competition on November 1, 2024.

The Yujiem team consists of students from the class of 2023: Orie Priscylla Mapeda Lumalan (Accounting), Handri Regina Putri (Accounting), and Guni Laras (Management). They secured the top position after a rigorous selection process in a competition organized by the Accounting Student Association of Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta.

The 2024 KIMBAP National Paper Competition is part of the Scientific Conference on Business and Professional Accounting Students (KIMBAP), attended by dozens of teams from various universities in the Yogyakarta and Central Java regions. "We are excited to win first place. This achievement is significant because it's the first time we have won an essay competition," said Regina Putri on Monday (4/20/2024).

Revitalizing Accountants' Skills

The 2024 National Paper Competition theme was "Accounting in the Era of Society 5.0: Facing Digital Transformation and Intelligent Technology." Yujiem's team submitted an essay titled "Future Accountants in Society 5.0: Revitalizing Skills to Face the Era of Intelligent Technology."

Regina Putri explained that their essay highlights the importance of revitalizing accountants' skills amid automation and digitalization, as well as the role of educational institutions in preparing competent accountants for the Society 5.0 era. By adapting appropriately, accountants can remain relevant and significantly contribute to modern business development.

"Technological advances in the Society 5.0 era have transformed the role of accountants from mere compilers of financial reports to strategic advisors using intelligent technology. This transformation requires accountants to master technology and data analysis skills to support more efficient business decisions and to enhance interpersonal skills to address challenges in risk management and strategic planning," she explained.

Overcoming Doubt

Orie shared that she and the team were initially doubtful about winning this competition, especially since their team was ranked last when the top five finalists were announced. "We were doubtful that we could win because we were ranked fifth when the top five was announced," she said.

However, the situation changed during the final round, when the Yujiem team could perform optimally. During their presentation, they answered all the judges' questions well.

Meanwhile, Guni Laras mentioned that achieving this result took a lot of work because the competition coincided with the midterm exam schedule (UTS). "The competition coincided with UTS, so we had to manage our time wisely to work on the essay. We only practiced the presentation the day before the competition," she concluded.

The success of the Yujiem team in the 2024 National Paper Competition is expected to inspire other FEB UGM students to continue to excel academically and prepare for the challenges of the Society 5.0 era. This achievement is a source of pride for FEB UGM. It aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 (Quality Education), emphasizing the importance of access to quality education and skills development for the future workforce.

Reportage: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum 

Sustainable Development Goals