Another proud achievement has been made by a student of the Japanese Language Education Study Program at the Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES). Keizha Djati Alzafirra, student ID number 2302070081, successfully won First Place in the International Japanese Language Essay Contest for Indonesians organized by Hiroshima University on February 7, 2026.
This prestigious event was attended by students from various universities, not only in Indonesia but also from Japanese-language learning communities worldwide. The competition served as a platform for participants to express their ideas through writing in Japanese, adhering to high academic standards.
In the contest, participants were required to compose essays based on themes determined by the organizing committee. From 280 submitted manuscripts, the committee shortlisted 37 best manuscripts to proceed to the interview stage conducted via video call using the Teams platform. Following this final stage, the jury selected 7 participants as First Place Winners.
Among the seven First Place winners, five were named Sponsor’s Choice First Place Winners and received certificates and iPads. Meanwhile, one participant received the Hiroshima University President’s Choice First Place Winner award, with prizes including a certificate, an iPad, and round-trip tickets between Japan and Indonesia for two weeks. Another participant received the Japanese Embassy’s Choice First Place Winner award, with prizes including a certificate, a MacBook, and round-trip tickets between Japan and Indonesia for two weeks.
Keizha stood out among the finalists and successfully impressed the jury with her comprehensive essay, demonstrating excellent mastery of the Japanese language. This achievement affirms the quality of FBS UNNES students’ Japanese language performance at the international level.
Furthermore, recognition was awarded to the supervising lecturer, Dwi Puspitosari, S.Pd., M.A., who was named Best Supervising Lecturer at the same event. This award was given to all supervising lecturers of students who achieved First Place, as a form of appreciation for their dedication and contribution in guiding students to achieve the highest recognition. This event marked its second annual installment, following its inaugural run the previous year.
The Coordinator of the FBS UNNES Japanese Language Education Study Program, Dr. Lispridona Diner, S.Pd., M.Pd., expressed her highest appreciation for this achievement. She emphasized that this accomplishment is not only academically proud but also contributes significantly to achieving the university’s strategic targets.
“Keizha’s success is a great source of pride for the FBS UNNES Japanese Language Education Study Program. This achievement demonstrates that our students possess excellent academic competence and Japanese language skills, enabling them to compete in international forums. Moreover, this accomplishment directly supports the university’s Key Performance Indicators (IKU), particularly IKU 2 concerning the percentage of graduates securing decent employment, and IKU 5 regarding outcomes of university collaboration with international partners such as Hiroshima University,” said Dr. Lispridona.
She added that this achievement also aligns with UNNES’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “This activity is in line with SDG 4: Quality Education, where students gain meaningful learning experiences at the global level. Additionally, the collaboration with Hiroshima University and the Japanese Embassy reflects the strengthening of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which serves as a crucial foundation for the development of the university’s tri-dharma mission,” she explained.
In the context of global rankings, Dr. Lispridona highlighted the importance of international achievements for UNNES’s reputation. “Within the framework of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, student success in international events like this strengthens UNNES’s reputation in the Teaching and International Outlook pillars. The academic mobility and international recognition achieved by Keizha and Mrs. Dwi Puspitosari, as the best supervising lecturer, are important indicators that enhance UNNES’s position on the global stage. We hope this achievement will inspire more students and lecturers to continue engaging at the international level,” she stated.
Keizha herself expressed gratitude for her achievement. “I am very grateful and never expected to win First Place. Thank you to my supervising lecturer and everyone who provided full support during the preparation process,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dwi Puspitosari remarked that this achievement is the result of the student’s hard work and excellent collaboration with the lecturer. “This achievement shows that our students can compete internationally. Hopefully, this success will motivate other students to continue achieving and bring honor to UNNES’s name on the global stage,” she said.
The essay contest organized by Hiroshima University serves as a strategic platform for strengthening international academic relations while simultaneously encouraging the development of students’ competence in Japanese language and culture. This achievement is expected to further solidify the reputation of the FBS UNNES Japanese Language Education Study Program as an excellent, globally competitive center for developing foreign language competencies.
