UNDIP, Semarang (26/10) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) has been entrusted to host the opening of SATRIA DATA 2026, a national competition that encourages students to develop their skills in statistics and data science—held at the Prof. Soedarto, S.H. Building on the UNDIP Tembalang Campus, the event brings together representatives from 19 universities across Indonesia. Through this competition, students have the opportunity to transform data into information and ideas that can help address real-world challenges.
The 19 participating universities are IPB University, Institut Teknologi Kalimantan, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya, Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Dian Nuswantoro, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Hasanuddin, Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Universitas Jambi, Universitas Mataram, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Universitas Tanjungpura, Telkom University, Universitas Udayana, and Universitas Diponegoro. The presence of delegations from various universities enriches the exchange of ideas while opening opportunities for collaboration in statistics and data science.
Organized by the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs (Belmawa) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek), SATRIA DATA 2026 carries the theme “Impactful Data Science Talent: Processing Data, Driving the Nation toward Golden Indonesia 2045.” Representing the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Director of Learning and Student Affairs Dr. Beny Bandanadjaja, S.T., M.T., delivered a video address expressing appreciation to UNDIP as the host and to all parties supporting the event. He revealed that the number of registrants increased from 1,696 in 2025 to 2,905 in 2026, representing an increase of approximately 71 percent. This growth reflects the increasing interest among students in developing their competencies in statistics and data science.
Beny emphasized that the ability to process data must be accompanied by the ability to understand problems, select appropriate analytical methods, and communicate results in an easy-to-understand language. Honesty in presenting findings, potential biases, and analytical limitations is also an essential part of a data analyst’s competence. He encouraged the finalists to use the competition as an opportunity to demonstrate their best abilities, exchange ideas, uphold sportsmanship, and build networks.
“I hope SATRIA DATA becomes a platform for Indonesia’s statistics and data science talents to grow. Hopefully, this experience will equip students to produce work that responds to industry needs, strengthens public services, and provides benefits to society. Best of luck to all finalists,” he said.
UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., warmly welcomed all finalists, supervising lecturers, and judges from various regions. He expressed gratitude for the trust placed in UNDIP to host several national competitions, including SATRIA DATA 2026. In a warm atmosphere, the Rector also introduced participants to Semarang’s cultural heritage through the Dugderan tradition and the iconic Warak Ngendog, which reflect the city’s community’s diversity and openness. Through this event, he hoped that participants would not only gain academic experience, but also take home positive impressions of Semarang and the friendships formed throughout the competition.
Prof. Suharnomo further encouraged students to enjoy every stage of the competition without being overly burdened by the final results. For him, having the courage to perform, giving one’s best, and building relationships with fellow participants are valuable experiences that are just as important as winning. This spirit aligns with UNDIP’s commitment to being a university that is both noble and valuable, while serving as a meeting place for young talent from various universities to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and develop their potential.
In his report, the Chair of the SATRIA DATA 2026 Organizing Committee and UNDIP Vice Rector I, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Ir. Heru Susanto, S.T., M.M., M.T., explained that this year’s competition covers four categories: the National Statistics Competition (NSC), Statistics Essay Competition (SEC), Statistics Infographic Competition (SIC), and Big Data Competition (BDC). Participant enthusiasm was reflected in the number of registrations, with 723 participants in the NSC, 769 registered teams in the SEC, 794 teams in the SIC, and 619 teams in the BDC. Twelve finalists from each category were selected to compete at the national level.
He expressed hope that SATRIA DATA would not only serve as a platform for competition and achievement, but also as a platform for students to sharpen their critical thinking, develop data-driven ideas, uphold sportsmanship, and expand inter-university networks. “Statistics is not merely about numbers; it tells the story of the past, establishes the facts of today, and helps us predict the world of the future,” he said.
UNDIP also recorded an achievement with seven students successfully advancing to the final round. They consist of one SEC finalist, two SIC finalists, one NSC finalist, and three BDC finalists. This achievement demonstrates UNDIP students’ active involvement in developing statistical skills, communicating ideas through essays and infographics, and utilizing data to solve problems.
The SATRIA DATA 2026 series runs from October 25–29, 2026, with the final round scheduled for October 27 at the Acintya Prasada Building, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, UNDIP, followed by the awards ceremony on October 28, 2026. The opening ceremony also features a national seminar bringing together academics and industry practitioners to broaden participants’ perspectives on the application of data science.
Through hosting SATRIA DATA 2026, UNDIP hopes the event will become more than an annual competition, serving as a platform for the younger generation to transform numbers into knowledge, develop innovations, and create impactful solutions for Indonesia’s progress. (Public Communication/UNDIP/DHW)
