IPDN 2026 Top Graduate is Son of a Builder from Soe, NTT

Aji Bayu Ramadhan has been announced as the top graduate of the Institute of Home Affairs Governance (IPDN) for 2026. Aji achieved a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.84. He is the son of a construction worker from Soe, South Central Timor Regency (TTS), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The achievement was announced by IPDN Rector Halilul Khairi during the graduation ceremony for the Applied Bachelor of Government Science, Applied Master of Government Studies, Doctoral Programme in Government Science, and the Kepamongprajaan Professional Education Programme at the IPDN Campus in Sumedang, West Java, on Sunday (26/7/2026). “The Government Information Engineering Technology (TRIP) Study Programme has 170 graduates, with the highest GPA achieved by graduate Aji Bayu Ramadan S.Tr.IP, with a GPA of 3.84, a cum laude predicate, registered from East Nusa Tenggara Province,” said Halilul. He added that Aji was the recipient of the Kartika Sapta Abdi Praja 1 Award for the TRIP Study Programme, as well as the Kartika Abdi Praja Ashta Brata Award. The Kartika Astha Brata is an annual award given to the top Pamong Praja Muda graduate of the IPDN Applied Bachelor of Government Science Programme (D-IV). Only one top graduate per cohort, with the highest combined teaching, training, and pastoral GPA across all study programmes, receives the honour. “Mr Minister, we report that Aji Bayu comes from a modest family, with parents who work daily as construction labourers,” Halilul stated. Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian had previously called Aji to the front of the stage while providing a briefing to prospective IPDN graduates on Wednesday (22/7). The moment was shared on Praja IPDN’s Instagram and the IPDN website. Tito asked the top graduate from the cohort of 1,204 to come forward and questioned him about his origins. Upon learning Aji was from Soe, NTT, Tito asked him about Fulan Fehan. Aji answered fluently, describing it as a destination on Timor Island in Belu Regency known as ‘heaven above the clouds’, and noted the minister had recently attended the Fulan Fehan Festival there. Tito expressed admiration and proceeded to ask about Aji’s parents. Aji, the first of two children born to Winoto Hadi and Wahyuniarti, confirmed his father works as a builder and his mother is a housewife. He also explained he registered for the IPDN exam from South Central Timor Regency and took the test in Kupang. IPDN graduated 1,404 students at the Balairung Rudini Hall, IPDN Jatinangor Campus, Sumedang Regency, West Java, on Sunday (26/7). The graduates comprised 45 Doctors of Government Science, 73 Applied Masters of Government Science, 1,204 Applied Bachelors of Government Science, and 82 graduates of the Kepamongprajaan Professional Education Programme.