UNM Data Science Student Builds AI Career Through Internships and Competitions
JAKARTA — Abira Wisnunggal, a final-year student in the Data Science programme at Universitas Nusa Mandiri (UNM), has developed his artificial intelligence (AI) skills through a range of academic and professional experiences. These include coursework, technology projects, competitions and internships at several organisations.
UNM provides opportunities for students to develop skills relevant to industry needs. One such initiative is the Internship Experience Program (IEP) 3+1, which connects academic learning with direct work experience in industry.
As part of his career development, Abira contributed to the development of bibliometric data-based Research Intelligence at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). He has also worked as a Machine Learning Engineer Intern at Nawatech and completed various data-processing research projects at GAO TEK Inc. and Home Credit Indonesia.
Abira also won a bronze medal at PeDaS x APTIKOM 2025. He placed among the top 160 teams in the national Satria Data competition.
Abira shared his experience of applying AI knowledge to various business projects. He said internships give students the opportunity to understand how technology is applied in the workplace.
“Internship experience gave me the opportunity to apply my knowledge to real projects. Developing AI solutions is not just about building a model; it is also about understanding the problem, processing data and working as a team,” he said in a written statement received on Monday (26 October 2026).
Abira also encouraged students to start building their skills through practical activities. He stressed the importance of consistently improving their abilities and making use of available opportunities.
“Start with something simple, build projects, take part in competitions and make the most of internship opportunities. The most important thing is to be consistent and keep trying to improve your skills.”
Abira’s experience demonstrates the importance of practical activities outside the classroom in preparing for professional careers. His achievements are expected to inspire other UNM students to master digital technology and succeed amid the industry’s transformation.