UNDIP, Semarang (August 23, 2025) – More than 14,000 incoming students filled Universitas Diponegoro’s Stadium in Tembalang for the 2025 Orientasi Diponegoro Muda (ODM) on Saturday morning, August 23, 2025. The highlight of the new academic year’s welcoming ceremony featured the Minister of Agriculture and public figure, Cinta Laura Kiehl, who delivered an encouraging message to the UNDIP freshmen, Diponegoro Muda.
With the theme “Smart Spending, Big Thinking,” this year’s ODM featured a blend of grand ceremonial processions, philosophical reflections, and creative student performances. The event was designed to equip freshmen with the mindset to navigate campus life intelligently, wisely, and with integrity.
More than a welcoming ceremony, ODM 2025 marked a significant moment for freshmen to affirm their identity as part of the UNDIP community. The spirit of unity was evident through creative showcases, including a mosaic performance, a paramotor demonstration, the EconoRhythm dance, a parade of student organizations, a musical drama titled “Needs or Wants,” an oration session by the students from the Student Executive Board (BEM), and inspiring discussions. The event became a learning space that fostered collaboration, art, and social awareness on campus.
ODM 2025 was further distinguished by the presence of Minister of Agriculture Dr. Ir. H. Andi Amran Sulaiman, M.P., who motivated the students to dream big, take bold action, and persevere in innovation. “The keys to success are honesty, discipline, hard work, intelligence, and character. Indonesia needs fresh ideas and practical solutions, especially in the area of food security. I believe UNDIP students have the potential to become engines of innovation in agriculture and food development,” he said.
The minister closed his remarks with an impassioned statement: “Agriculture is the nation’s future. Through UNDIP, we hold Indonesia’s destiny in our hands. Let us align Indonesia with the world’s superpowers. I hope UNDIP’s young generation will create innovations that make Indonesia the global food barn.”
In a symbolic moment, UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., warmly welcomed the Class of 2025, emphasizing that only 4% of applicants were admitted. It is an achievement that demonstrates both the quality and the challenge faced by the selected students.
“Welcome, Diponegoro Muda 2025, you are the chosen ones. We are grateful you chose UNDIP as your place to grow for the future. This university is rooted in the spirit of Prince Diponegoro. As I said yesterday, we are not pioneers nor mere heirs, but we inherit Diponegoro’s values of honesty, courage, empathy, and fairness. This campus is not just a place of study, but a space to shape your future with those values,” he said.
Prof. Suharnomo also highlighted the importance of gratitude, parents’ prayers, and healthy friendships on campus. He encouraged students to remain humble, resilient, and optimistic in the face of challenges. “Enjoy your college years. Don’t just focus on academics; also be active in organizations. With intelligence, soft skills, and leadership grounded in faith, you will become impactful individuals who achieve success both in this world and the hereafter,” he added.
Chair of ODM UNDIP 2025 Committee, Attallah Febrio Putra, also welcomed the new students. “You are the chosen generation who today officially become part of UNDIP. The steps you take today are the beginning of a journey of hope, brotherhood, and community service at UNDIP,” he said.
One of the most anticipated sessions was the dialogue “Beyond Saving: Managing Money, Mind, and the Future of Visionary Students,” featuring public figure Cinta Laura Kiehl. The event closed with a performance by the band Maliq & D’Essentials, uniting students in celebration before they begin classes in their respective faculties next week.
ODM 2025 underscored that UNDIP not only provides academic knowledge but also builds character and creativity. From Tembalang, the spirit of Diponegoro Muda is ready to carry forward the vision of “Noble and Valuable UNDIP” for Indonesia and the world. (Public Communication/ UNDIP/ DHW, ed. Nurul)
