UNDIP, Semarang (5/8) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) began the academic journey of its new students for the 2026/2027 Academic Year by strengthening national character and values. The message was highlighted in a public lecture delivered by Dr. H. TB. Ace Hasan Syadzily, M.Si., the Governor of the National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia (Lembaga Ketahanan Nasional Republik Indonesia / Lemhannas RI), during the Phase I New Student Admission Ceremony (PMB) at UNDIP on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the Muladi Dome Multipurpose Building, UNDIP Tembalang Campus.
The public lecture was part of an Open Session of the Academic Senate and also marked the official welcoming of new students into the UNDIP academic community. For the 2026/2027 Academic Year, UNDIP admitted 16,267 new students, comprising 12,761 undergraduate (S1) students, 1,968 applied undergraduate (D4) students, 663 master’s (S2) students, 184 doctoral (S3) students, 488 professional program students, and 203 specialist program students.
Under the theme “Lemhannas RI National Insight Campaign: Strengthening Nationalism and Building Geopolitical Understanding among New Students of Universitas Diponegoro,” Ace Hasan highlighted the strategic role of young people in the digital era. He emphasized that geopolitical understanding and nationalism are not merely theories discussed in classrooms but also opportunities to shape character and to understand Indonesia’s position amid global change. According to him, outstanding young people must combine three fundamental elements: academic competence, strong character, and a deep commitment to the nation’s future.
The Governor of Lemhannas RI expressed his appreciation for UNDIP’s role as an institution dedicated to character building and consistently producing high-quality human resources in support of Indonesia’s Golden Generation 2045. “These new students represent an outstanding generation from diverse fields of study. Their position is highly strategic, so strengthening nationalism and a sense of love for the country needs to be instilled from an early stage,” Ace Hasan said during a doorstep interview.
He added that welcoming students to campus should ideally not only introduce them to academic culture but also sharpen their geopolitical awareness. He likened the values of Pancasila to a primary moral compass that can give students clear direction in their ethics and actions.
According to Ace Hasan, Generation Z, which lives in an era of information disruption, represents an important part of Indonesia’s demographic dividend. The ease of accessing and absorbing digital information must be balanced with a filter grounded in national values so that young people maintain a strong foundation in their thinking.
On the occasion, he also reminded lecturers and higher education administrators to oversee the use of algorithm-based technologies. Such supervision is considered crucial to ensuring that the rapid flow of digital media does not erode the nation’s social and cultural resilience.
To the new UNDIP students, Ace delivered a simple yet challenging message: use their university years to build character, broaden their horizons, develop leadership skills, and strengthen their commitment to the nation. He encouraged students to continue learning without becoming complacent, to dare to create despite the possibility of failure, to think critically, to maintain integrity, to preserve unity, and to love Indonesia. “A great nation is not built by people who are merely good at talking about the future. A great nation is built by those who work hard to make that future a reality,” the Lemhannas Governor said.
Chair of the UNDIP Academic Senate, Prof. Ir. Tri Winarni Agustini, M.Sc., Ph.D., welcomed the new students as members of the UNDIP academic community. She reminded them that the opportunity to pursue higher education must be embraced with dedication, responsibility, and a commitment to continuous growth. “We hope that our new students will complete their studies on time and achieve their best. This must be attained through hard work, strong commitment, responsibility, and prayer,” she said.
On the occasion, UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., emphasized that national character education is an important part of shaping students from the moment they enter university. According to him, academic excellence must go hand in hand with character and concern for society. “UNDIP is committed to being a people-oriented university as well as a university rooted in national values. Love for the nation must be reflected in the technology, innovation, research, and work that we deliver to society,” he said. He cited the development of water treatment technology and thematic Community Service Programs (KKN) as examples of the university’s commitment to addressing real-world societal challenges.
Prof. Suharnomo also emphasized the importance of digital literacy among students. Digital competence is not limited to the ability to use technology, but also encompasses ethics, responsibility, and awareness of the digital footprints left in cyberspace. According to him, guidance from the university must go hand in hand with parental involvement so that students are not only proficient in using technology but also understand the ethics and consequences of their digital activities.
“We can be courteous in the real world, but we must not become less courteous in the digital world. Both must be maintained properly,” he said. Through learning, character development, and a continuously evolving campus ecosystem, UNDIP hopes its new students will grow into outstanding graduates who also make meaningful contributions to society.
Meanwhile, UNDIP Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Ir. Heru Susanto, S.T., M.M., M.T., said that the new students’ orientation journey would continue with the Introduction to Campus Life for New Students (PKKMB) on August 10–11, Character Education (Pendikar) on August 12–14, and Diponegoro Muda Orientation (ODM) on August 15, 2026. These activities are expected to help students become familiar with the learning system, student organizations, and campus facilities, while also preparing them to undertake a healthy and responsible academic life.
The PMB ceremony series also featured the launch of the BTN Combo Student Card (KTM Combo BTN) at Universitas Diponegoro as part of efforts to strengthen student services through collaboration between UNDIP and PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk. The KTM Combo BTN serves not only as an academic identification card but also integrates digital banking services to facilitate students’ daily transactions and academic activities both on and off campus throughout their studies at UNDIP.
Through a combination of strengthened national insight and preparedness to face global challenges, UNDIP reaffirms its commitment to producing a generation that is not only intellectually excellent but also possesses integrity, adaptability, and the ability to create meaningful impact. From this campus, the small steps taken by students are expected to grow into significant contributions to Indonesia. (Public Communication/UNDIP/DHW)
