Indonesia
English
Politeknik Negeri Ketapang (Ketapang State Polytechnic), on Tuesday, 8 December 2020, held the graduation ceremony of the 2019/2020 Academic Year for the 10th batch of the D-III Program and the 2nd batch of the Applied Bachelor's Program. The graduation was conducted in a hybrid format, with Politap leadership and the Academic Senate present on campus while the graduates participated from their respective homes. This graduation was attended by 351 graduates, consisting of 46 graduates from the Applied Bachelor's Study Program in Plantation Crop Cultivation, 60 from the Applied Bachelor's in Road and Bridge Construction Engineering Technology, 31 from the D-III Study Program in Machine Maintenance and Repair, 27 from the D-III Study Program in Mining Engineering, 54 from the D-III Study Program in Plantation Product Processing Technology, 25 from the D-III Study Program in Agroindustry, 76 from the D-III Study Program in Informatics Engineering, and 32 from the D-III Study Program in Electrical Engineering.
The Director of Politap, Endang Kusmana, delivered in his address that this graduation was held amidst tests brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Endang hoped that these trials would serve as a stepping stone to advance. For the graduates, it serves as a challenge to thrive according to their passions amidst negative economic growth. For Politap, it serves as a platform to implement information technology in hosting a hybrid graduation. Endang called on the graduates to build their villages, hoping that the 61% of graduates who predominantly come from villages across Ketapang Regency, North Kayong, and Kubu Raya can foster village self-reliance by implementing their competencies. According to Endang, village independence is key to developing villages that remain resilient amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Politeknik Negeri Ketapang is one of the state polytechnics dedicated to village development through the Politap Building Vocational Education from Villages Program. According to him, villages can empower the Politap alumni graduating today to build rural communities, acting as a driving force to synergize villages, industry, and vocational education.
In his report, the Director of Politap conveyed that several students graduating this year had strived to adapt to the pandemic conditions. At a time when industries and workplaces reduced activities and ceased operations—resulting in fewer job opportunities—several students pursued their passions through various professions, including becoming actors and artists by leveraging current digital culture, becoming entrepreneurs, and serving as educational volunteers caring for others. Nevertheless, Endang warmly welcomed the fact that several business and industrial partners (Iduka) in Ketapang continued to recruit student interns as permanent employees.
At the conclusion of his address, Endang advised graduates to always maintain a positive mindset regarding the importance of confidence in future success and to constantly strive to compete with winners. Graduates are encouraged not to be content with being followers, but to strive to become leaders.
The best overall graduate honor was achieved by Meli Fransisca with a GPA of 3.97 from the Applied Bachelor's Study Program in Plantation Crop Cultivation. On this occasion, several awards were also presented to graduates with achievements in reasoning, interests, and talents: Meli Fransisca for various achievements in fashion modeling, winner of the Ketapang Tourism Ambassador, and runner-up of Putri Pariwisata Ketapang; Roni Bia Santo for winning the 2019 national poster competition, serving as President of BEM Politap 2019/2020, and Head of the Communication Division of the All-Indonesia Polytechnic Student Communication Forum; Susilawati, winner of the National Student Creativity Program; Noviasari, representing West Kalimantan in beach volleyball; and Khorina and Padia, representing West Kalimantan in women's football.