Earning a master’s degree from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and graduating with honors is a dream for many. Achieving it, however, is far from easy. But for Evi Krismayanti (31), this dream has become a reality. She successfully earned her Master of Accounting degree from the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UGM with a near-perfect Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.95, despite facing numerous challenges along the way.
Evi’s interest in accounting began back in high school. Accounting is a logical and structured field for her, which made the learning process more enjoyable. This passion led her to pursue an undergraduate degree at the University of Lampung and to begin a career as an internal auditor at a private company. Over time, however, Evi felt the need to deepen her knowledge, especially in the public sector, which has become the main focus of her current work. She chose to pursue a Master’s degree in Accounting at FEB UGM, which is renowned for its excellence in public sector accounting.
“Studying at the best institution, with the best lecturers and facilities, will definitely support my future career,” she said.
Evi pursued her master’s degree with a scholarship from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP). However, earning the scholarship wasn’t easy. The selection process took place alongside her demanding job that required high mobility. She even had to take some tests while on business trips out of town.
Juggling work with the rigorous LPDP selection process left her with very little time to study. Fortunately, her company and team provided outstanding support, making her scholarship journey more manageable.
Starting her studies at FEB UGM marked a new chapter for Evi. Coming from a private sector background, she had to adapt to public sector material quickly.
“I focused a lot on the private sector during my undergraduate studies. Then, right after graduation, I started working in the public sector. So there was a knowledge gap. I learned a lot through experience, but this master’s program has helped me understand everything more conceptually,” she explained.
One of the most memorable aspects of her academic journey was the opportunity to join a research discussion group with doctoral students. Through this forum, Evi received valuable insights for her thesis “An Analysis of the Relationship Between Service Capacity and Community Welfare: A Study on Local Governments in Indonesia.”
However, writing her thesis was not without challenges. Evi admitted that there were moments when she felt stuck and unsure of how to move forward. Still, she never gave up. Thanks to the guidance of her thesis supervisor, Prof. Irwan Taufiq Ritonga, and her classmates’ support, she completed her thesis successfully.
Evi expressed that her parents and friends provided her with strong moral support throughout her academic and professional journey. In addition, Prof. Irwan Taufiq Ritonga became the most inspiring figure in her academic life.
“He showed me that academic knowledge and hands-on experience are essential in the public sector. We can solve various problems with these two things,” said Evi, quoting her supervisor’s words.
When she felt tired or overwhelmed, Evi would take short breaks and spend time with friends. For her, chatting and having fun with others helped prevent overthinking. She also made it a point to allocate one to two days a week to rest and work on her thesis alone.
Evi shared some of her effective study strategies as well. One was to read up on topics before attending class. Another was to engage in discussions with peers to exchange ideas and knowledge.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Lampung, Evi worked as an internal auditor at PT Gunung Madu Plantations and PT Pemukasakti Manisindah from 2016 to 2019. She shared that her work there taught her a great deal, not only about financial audits but also about company operations.
“Even though I worked at one company, I was lucky to experience a ‘mini version’ of operations from other sectors. I was fortunate to have a highly dedicated manager who taught me everything from scratch,” she recalled proudly.
In 2019, Evi began working at Jakarta’s Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP). The experience she gained, including being stationed on islands, made her realise the significant development gaps in remote areas. She also witnessed the struggles faced by the locals, such as children who could not attend school because large waves prevented them from crossing to another island.
As an auditor, Evi emphasized the importance of upholding FEB’s core values, including integrity, professionalism, objectivity, equality, and social awareness, to contribute effectively to society. These values, she said, were also evident in her academic life.
Evi offered this message to students still working toward their dreams: take your time and don’t pressure yourself too much.
“Just enjoy the process. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Not everything has to be quick or better than someone else’s. Happiness and health are just as important,” she concluded.
Reported by: Shofi Hawa Anjani
Edited by: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
Sustainable Development Goals
