Internship at LLDIKTI III: UNM Informatics Student Sharpens Skills and Prepares for Career

Direct work experience is an important asset for students facing industry demands. This was felt by MHD Rizky, who took part in the Internship Experience Program (IEP) at LLDIKTI Region III. Rizky was placed in the Research and Community Service Division, specifically in the Web Application Development section. He is currently a seventh-semester student in the Informatics Study Programme, Faculty of Information Technology, Nusa Mandiri University (UNM), known as a Digital Business Campus.

Rizky used the internship opportunity to apply his competencies in web programming, databases, and system development within a government work environment. “My motivation for joining the IEP was because I wanted to prove that what I learned on campus—web programming, databases, and system development—could be used to solve real problems, not just for coursework,” Rizky said.

Before starting the internship, Rizky went through an administrative process, CV selection, portfolio review, transcript evaluation, and an interview. Projects such as Volunteer Hub and Klinik Stunting formed part of the portfolio that supported his selection. He appreciated the support of the Nusa Mandiri Career Center (NCC) throughout the internship process. “NCC played a major role, from promoting the programme and helping with the registration administration to the placement process at partner institutions such as LLDIKTI Region III,” he said.

During the early stages of the internship, Rizky learned the team’s workflow, the application development system, and the standards and procedures in a government environment. According to him, the challenges were not only technical but also involved adapting to a formal and structured work culture. Competencies from courses in Web Programming, Databases, Software Engineering, and Information System Security also supported his activities. The experience simultaneously trained discipline, communication, coordination, thoroughness, and professionalism.

“The staff here are also open and supportive towards interns, which makes me even more motivated to learn what real work professionalism is, not just from theory in class,” he said.

Head of NCC, Muhammad Faisal, assessed that the IEP is a strategic facility for bringing academic competencies together with the needs of the professional world. “We present the IEP as a bridge between campus learning and the needs of the professional world,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (26/8/2026). According to him, students are not only required to understand theory but also need real experience, adaptability, communication, discipline, and readiness to face an actual work environment.

He said the experience at LLDIKTI Region III provided students with a new perspective on the application of technology and professionalism in a government environment. When students get the opportunity to learn in a work environment different from campus, they gain more comprehensive experience. “This is what we hope from the IEP: that students become more confident, competent, and have a clearer picture of their careers after graduation,” he added.

Appreciation was also expressed by Arfhan Prasetyo, Head of the UNM Informatics Study Programme. According to him, Rizky’s experience is a form of applying informatics competencies as well as an evaluation of the relevance of learning to professional needs. “We appreciate the opportunity Rizky obtained to learn directly at LLDIKTI Region III. Experiences like this are important because students see firsthand how informatics competencies are applied to organisational needs and services in the world of work,” he said.

He added that informatics students need to develop technical skills as well as communication, cooperation, ethics, and adaptation. Through internship programmes such as the IEP, students not only learn about technology but also learn to become professionals. “We hope Rizky’s experience can motivate other informatics students to dare to take learning opportunities outside the campus environment,” he said.

For Rizky, the IEP provided an experience that cannot be fully obtained in the classroom, especially in understanding teamwork, bureaucracy, documentation, and the expectations of the professional world. He also encouraged students to make use of internship programmes to build experience and networks. “Make the most of the IEP programme. Do not just chase an internship grade, but absorb the experience and build a professional network. Prepare a real portfolio from your time at university, and do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone,” he advised.

Rizky’s experience shows how collaboration between the campus, career centre, and work partners can expand students’ learning space. Through the IEP, UNM as a Digital Business Campus continues to encourage students not only to graduate with academic knowledge but also to have experience, competence, and readiness to face the professional world.