Thesis Does Not End on Library Shelf: UNM Graduate's Research Published in Scopus Journal

Many postgraduate theses end up as academic documents stored on library shelves. However, Kartika Puspita, a graduate of the Informatics Master’s Programme at Universitas Nusa Mandiri (UNM), has achieved a different outcome by publishing her research in a reputable international journal indexed by Scopus.

The research, conducted with her thesis supervisor, was published in the International Journal on Informatics Visualization (JOIV), a Scopus-indexed international journal ranked Quartile 3 (Q3) in the field of Computer Science. The article is titled “Brain Tumor Classification based on Convolutional Neural Networks with an Ensemble Learning Approach through Soft Voting”.

This achievement serves as tangible proof of UNM’s commitment as a Digital Business Campus to building a productive and globally competitive research culture, particularly at the postgraduate level. Kartika’s research focused on utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to assist in the classification of brain tumours based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) images. By employing a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approach combined with an ensemble learning soft voting method, the research produced a model with exceptionally high classification performance.

The developed model utilised a combination of leading CNN architectures, namely DenseNet121, ResNet50, VGG16, and MobileNet. Test results showed an accuracy rate of 97.67 percent, with a Cohen’s Kappa score of 0.9688, indicating a very strong level of prediction agreement. Beyond contributing to the field of intelligent computing, this research also opens up opportunities for the application of AI in the digital health sector, particularly to support faster, more accurate, and efficient disease detection and classification.

Agus Subekti, Head of the Informatics Master’s Programme at Universitas Nusa Mandiri, stated that scientific publications originating from student thesis research are an important indicator of the success of research culture development on campus. “We encourage students to ensure their theses do not merely serve as academic requirements but can develop into published scientific works that contribute to the advancement of knowledge. Kartika Puspita’s publication demonstrates that master’s student research has the quality and relevance to compete in international scientific forums,” he said.

He added that developments in technology such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Intelligent Computing have opened significant opportunities for students to produce research relevant to the needs of industry and society. “Therefore, the Informatics Master’s Programme at UNM continues to strengthen the research ecosystem through active collaboration between students and lecturers, so that every research project has a greater chance of resulting in internationally reputable scientific publications,” he explained.

He conveyed that Kartika’s success is an example that a thesis does not have to end as a mere academic document. With proper guidance, a conducive research environment, and a spirit of continuous innovation, student research can make a real contribution to the development of global science. “As a Digital Business Campus, UNM continues to encourage the emergence of excellent research that not only supports students’ academic achievements but is also capable of addressing real challenges in the era of digital transformation and artificial intelligence,” he said.