Amidst the busy schedule of completing her thesis, Laila Margaretha Nur Habibah, a Master’s student from the Indonesian Language Education Study Program at the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), has achieved a remarkable accomplishment on the international stage.
Laila secured several accolades at the 2nd International Youth Conference, held in Alamis City, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from May 19–20, 2025. In the competition, organized by Universiti Putra Malaysia and Setara Prisma Nusantara, she clinched the titles of Grand Champion, 2nd Winner, Gold Medal, and the Best Paper award.
In this competition, Laila was part of a team alongside her peers: Ulya Fajar Amrullah (Law Study Program), Fadli Awaludin (Pancasila and Civic Education), Nisa Isnaini Fadillah (Nutrition Study Program), and Kausar Aghnia’ (Electrical Engineering Study Program). All five students also reside in Semarang’s Al-Hikmah Student Islamic Boarding School (PPM).
“Collaboration across study programs allows us to complement each other,” Laila stated. “Everyone has their expertise, which broadens our ideas and the scope of potential benefits.”
Despite bringing home numerous awards, Laila admitted their struggle wasn’t easy. The team initially faced funding challenges due to campus budget efficiency policies. However, they didn’t give up and successfully partnered with several companies as sponsors.
For two months, Laila and her team dedicated themselves to preparing their presentation, seeking sponsors, and balancing their time between lectures, Pondok activities, and intensive practice sessions leading up to the competition.
Professor Dr. Tommi Yuniawan, the Dean of FBS UNNES, congratulated Laila and her team for their achievements. He stated that the student’s success on the international stage aligns with UNNES’s vision to become a world-renowned university and a pioneer of educational excellence with a conservation perspective. (Ika Rizki Refima Putri/Student Staff Humas FBS UNNES/*)
Translated by Dafele Arozal/Student Staff Humas FBS UNNES
