{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1833839,
        "msgid": "university-is-not-just-about-sitting-in-class-dare-to-seek-experience-1782885180",
        "date": "2026-07-01 11:38:36",
        "title": "University Is Not Just About Sitting in Class: Dare to Seek Experience!",
        "author": "Ferry kisihandi",
        "source": "REPUBLIKA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Social Policy",
        "summary": "A dean argues that academic grades alone are no longer sufficient for the modern workforce, which demands practical experience, critical thinking, and adaptability. She highlights how Universitas Nusa Mandiri integrates industry visits, professional training, and a year-long internship programme to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The piece serves as a call for students to actively build portfolios and professional networks to secure their future careers.",
        "content": "<p>Many prospective students still view university as a simple routine:\nattend class, follow lectures, complete assignments, sit exams, and then\ngraduate. This perspective is not entirely wrong, but it is no longer\nsufficient to answer the challenges of a rapidly changing job market.\nToday, companies are not only looking for graduates with good academic\ngrades. The industrial world needs individuals who have experience, can\ncommunicate, work in teams, think critically, and adapt quickly to\nchange. These competencies are not born solely from the lecture hall,\nbut from diverse learning experiences during higher education. This is\nwhat every prospective student must understand from the outset. Higher\neducation institutions today have a greater responsibility than merely\ntransferring knowledge. Campuses must become spaces that connect\nstudents with the real world, presenting experiences that enrich insight\nwhile shaping a professional character ready to face various challenges.\nAs part of Universitas Nusa Mandiri (UNM), known as the Digital Business\nCampus, the Faculty of Economics and Business views the learning\nexperience as an investment equally important as academic achievement.\nTherefore, the learning process does not stop in the classroom. Students\nare actively encouraged to participate in seminars, workshops, public\nlectures, competency training, industrial visits, and various discussion\nforums featuring practitioners, business actors, professionals, and\nalumni who have worked in various industrial sectors. This kind of\ninteraction opens space for students to understand the dynamics of the\nworking world directly while expanding their professional networks early\non. I believe that the experience of meeting and dialoguing with\npractitioners often provides lessons not found in books. Students can\nlearn about the competencies currently needed by the industry,\nunderstand real business challenges, and gain inspiration to build a\ncareer or their own business. One programme with a significant impact is\nthe industrial visit. When students see firsthand how a company\noperates, how a business decision is made, and how a professional work\nculture is built, they gain a much more complete perspective than simply\nstudying theory in the classroom. In addition, students are equipped\nwith various training relevant to current industry needs, ranging from\ndigital marketing, entrepreneurship, and personal branding to\nprofessional communication and career development. These competencies\nare important provisions so that graduates can compete amidst changes in\nthe business world increasingly influenced by digital technology. This\ncommitment is further strengthened through the Internship Experience\nProgramme (IEP) 3+1, a flagship programme that provides students the\nopportunity to study for three years on campus and spend one year\nundergoing professional experience through industrial internships,\nentrepreneurship projects, research, and other competency development\nactivities. With this experience, students graduate not only with a\ndiploma but also with a portfolio and a real understanding of the\nworking world. In my view, the combination of academic learning,\nindustrial experience, competency development, and professional\nnetworking is the factor that distinguishes graduates who are ready to\nface change from those who rely solely on theory. In the digital economy\nera, the ability to learn is no longer enough. Students must dare to\ntry, build relationships, hone skills, and continuously expand their\nexperience. The current job market values those who can demonstrate\nwork, experience, and adaptability more than just a string of grades on\nan academic transcript. Therefore, I always invite students to take\nadvantage of every opportunity provided by the campus. Attend seminars,\nbe active in organisations, build networks, get involved in projects,\nand never hesitate to learn directly from the industrial world. All of\nthese experiences will become invaluable capital when entering the\nprofessional world. Ultimately, university is not just about obtaining a\ndegree. It is a process of shaping character, broadening horizons,\nbuilding competence, and preparing oneself to be an individual ready to\nface the future. If you want to succeed after graduation, do not just\nchase a high GPA. Chase experience, build competence, and seize every\nopportunity. Because experience is the best investment that will open\nthe door to a career and a brighter future.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/university-is-not-just-about-sitting-in-class-dare-to-seek-experience-1782885180",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}