Bangkit: A Gold Standard Initiative that Bridges Students with International Program
Since 2021, Bangkit has contributed to the birth of +3,000 high-caliber digital talents. It also acted as a selector for the Stanford University Innovation Fellows (UIF). In this event, students from different parts of the world assemble and improve their creativity, entrepreneurship, and leadership.“In 2021, Bangkit selected approximately 60 students from Indonesia for Stanford University Innovation Fellows.”(Bapak Maclaurin Hutagalung, BE, M.Sc, Ph.D., Bangkit PIC for Institut Teknologi Harapan Bangsa)
Maclaurin Hutagalung (41), or as his students always call him, “Pak Mac,” is the Bangkit PIC for Institut Teknologi Harapan Bangsa (ITHB), whose institution was one of the campuses that dispatched its fellows to the Silicon Valley Meetup in California, United States. This event brought together the fellows and UIF faculty mentors for several days of immersive learning activities. Students’ participation in the UIF is expected to impact each campus significantly.
Bangkit as the Gold Standard of Kampus Merdeka Program
As a person who has been directly involved with Bangkit since its launch in 2020, Pak Mac―that’s what he is usually called―experienced for himself how Bangkit benefits its participants. He even joined and graduated from Bangkit 2020, which didn’t have age limit requirements then.
Seeing Bangkit so impactful for its participants, in 2021, the Kampus Merdeka program was launched by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemdikbudristek). As an initiative that takes shelter under this governmental program, Bangkit is considered the gold standard for other Kampus Merdeka programs. This statement was delivered by Prof. Nizam, Acting Director-General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology.
Bangkit's success in producing high-caliber digital talent can’t be separated from the role of partner universities that rigorously assess Bangkit’s curriculum, learning process, and learning outcomes. This makes Bangkit different from the other programs.
Initially, UIF activity was only carried out online. Then the Silicon Valley Meetup was held by Stanford to bring together fellows from different parts of the world. ITHB didn’t want to waste this opportunity, so they sent four students and two faculty mentors to the event. This institute wished to learn directly from Stanford, which has produced many world-changing graduates.
ITHB’s attendance at the Silicon Valley Meetup gave birth to an initiative called NICE. A program that stands for Networking, Innovation, Collaboration, and Entrepreneurship.
"Moreover, Bangkit also plays a critical role in the distribution of tech education for students across Indonesia. The existence of the Kampus Merdeka program, particularly Bangkit, facilitates students to have equal access to quality complimentary teachings.”Therefore, Pak Mac fully supports Kampus Merdeka programs from Kemendikbudristek. This can be an educational revolution for the younger generation in Indonesia.
Attending the Silicon Valley Meetup to Make Innovations & Collaborations Thrive on ITHB
After being successfully assessed as the gold standard of the Kampus Merdeka program, Bangkit also selected students from 15 partner universities to participate in the Stanford UIF program. As a result, in 2021, 60 students were chosen to become fellows. In addition, they had the opportunity to obtain deeper insights about creativity, entrepreneurship, and leadership from experts.
Initially, UIF activity was only carried out online. Then the Silicon Valley Meetup was held by Stanford to bring together fellows from different parts of the world. ITHB didn’t want to waste this opportunity, so they sent four students and two faculty mentors to the event. This institute wished to learn directly from Stanford, which has produced many world-changing graduates.
ITHB’s attendance at the Silicon Valley Meetup gave birth to an initiative called NICE. A program that stands for Networking, Innovation, Collaboration, and Entrepreneurship.
“Through the NICE program, we hope students at ITHB can have a wider network for their future careers. We also aspire that the innovations and collaborations can thrive on our campus, eventually leading to the establishment of many startups built by ITHB students and alumni.”Currently, the NICE program is still being finalized by the campus. However, ITHB is ready to support entrepreneurial innovations made by students in terms of funds and facilities.
“Therefore, I hope that Bangkit as Kampus Merdeka program that facilitates students to learn, innovate, and collaborate, will continue to exist, considering Bangkit doesn’t only equip students with tech skills but also complement them with skills in leadership and entrepreneurship.”
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