Hailing from a small village in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Rohinun (Economics 2021) has proven that limitations are no barrier to achieving one’s dreams. As a recipient of the Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah (KIP-K) scholarship, this FEB UGM Economics student was selected for the Indonesian International Student Mobility Award (IISMA) 2024, allowing her to study at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Spain from September to December 2024. Her achievement is a testament to perseverance, determination, and an unyielding spirit.
Despite coming from a region far from major educational centers, Rohinun never felt disadvantaged. To her, studying in Yogyakarta was a golden opportunity that had to be maximized. However, her academic journey was not without challenges. Coming from a vocational high school (SMK), she had to work harder in the early semesters to adapt. To overcome these difficulties, she actively volunteered as an economics teacher and participated in various organizations and committees at FEB UGM.
Rohinun has held leadership roles, including serving as Head of the Scientific Department of BEM FEB UGM and as part of the Board of Directors of Simfoni FEB UGM 2023. Through these experiences, she found a supportive network of friends who inspired and encouraged her to keep striving for excellence. From her third semester onward, she began competing in business competitions, earning numerous national and international accolades. Initially, she joined UGM’s Student Entrepreneurship Program (PMW) and the Student Entrepreneurship Development Program (P2MW) under the Directorate General of Higher Education.
These programs paved the way for her participation in various business competitions, where she earned multiple achievements. Among them were winning the Creasie Business Case Competition at Widyatama University, securing second place at the PKT-Gadjah Mada Business Case Competition (GAMABCC), and excelling in the Business Plan Competition at the Next Gen Entrepreneurship Festival at Ahmad Dahlan University. She also won the Business Plan Competition at FEB UGM, took second place in the International Case and Conference Competition (IDSC) at Airlangga University, and performed strongly in the Bachelor Journey in Management at FEB UI.
Further accomplishments included placing in the Kopma Fair Business Plan Competition at the University of Technology Yogyakarta, the Business Plan Competition at the Millennial Online Competition (MOC) at Hasanuddin University, the UMP Business Plan Competition (BPC), and the Kejar Mimpi Business Competition by CIMB Niaga. She also excelled in the HR Motion Case Competition at Semarang State University, the International Infographic Competition at the Jakarta Youth Summit, and reached the Top 8 in the MBS E-Case Competition at Universitas Indonesia.
Her involvement in business competitions stemmed from a deep interest in economic, business, and sustainability issues. Business plan competitions helped her develop pitching skills for investors, while business case competitions challenged her to solve complex problems using data-driven analysis. She particularly enjoyed working on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) business cases.
Rohinun shared valuable advice for students aiming to be active and accomplished. She emphasized the importance of setting clear goals from the start, choosing activities aligned with personal and professional growth, and maintaining a balance between academic and extracurricular commitments. Additionally, she highlighted the significance of a strong support system and effective time management to prevent burnout.
Her decision to join IISMA was driven not only by the academic benefits of studying abroad but also by her desire to step out of her comfort zone. She chose Universitat Pompeu Fabra for its course on Economic Development and Sustainability, believing that economics is not just about numbers and graphs but about creating real solutions for society.
During IISMA, she collaborated on several projects with fellow students, including policy papers addressing Spain’s unemployment issues, remote work trends, and solutions for Indonesia’s online gambling crisis.
Preparing for IISMA presented significant challenges, particularly the rigorous administrative and selection process. Balancing these demands with coursework, KKN obligations, and internships was overwhelming at times, but she managed by implementing strong time management strategies and seeking guidance from peers with similar experiences. After being accepted, adapting to a new environment with a different language, culture, and education system posed yet another challenge, but it ultimately strengthened her adaptability and openness to diversity.
She credited her family for providing emotional support and motivation, while her campus peers played a crucial role in encouraging her academic and extracurricular endeavors. FEB UGM also offered assistance by facilitating special arrangements during IISMA preparations, covering English test fees, and providing reimbursement and performance incentives for participating students. To her, FEB UGM is a place where students not only excel academically but also develop essential soft skills for personal and professional growth.
The KIP-K scholarship allowed her to study far from home, offering the opportunity to grow through competitions, organizations, and programs such as IISMA. She expressed a deep sense of responsibility to make the most of this opportunity—not just for herself but as a contribution to her family and society.
Following IISMA, Rohinun plans to focus on completing her thesis while helping other students interested in the IISMA program. After graduation, she hopes to apply the knowledge gained during her time at Universitat Pompeu Fabra to the workforce, particularly in sustainable economic development and addressing global challenges. She also aims to continue applying the cross-cultural collaboration and critical thinking skills she honed during IISMA in various social projects and campus activities.
Finally, Rohinun encouraged students to stay focused on their own goals, embrace new experiences, and step out of their comfort zones. She stressed the importance of enjoying the journey and viewing failures as valuable learning opportunities for self-growth and success.
“The process is not always smooth, but every step holds a lesson. You may feel overwhelmed during preparations or intimidated by the many exceptional individuals out there. But trust me, this journey is about discovering your own strength. Sometimes, we don’t realize how capable we truly are,” she concluded.
Reported by: Najwah Ariella Puteri
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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