Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) held its 134th Graduation Ceremony on Saturday (October 18) at the UNNES Auditorium, Sekaran Campus, Gunungpati, Semarang.
In this period, UNNES graduated a total of 1,476 students, consisting of 9 doctoral graduates, 62 master’s graduates, 7 professional counselors, 1,381 bachelor’s graduates, and 17 diploma graduates.
The ceremony was conducted solemnly and attended by the Chair and Members of the Academic Senate, Vice Rectors, Deans, the Director of the Graduate School, Heads of Institutions, administrative staff, and parents of the graduates who were present to witness this proud moment of their sons and daughters.
In his speech, UNNES Rector Prof. Dr. S. Martono, M.Si. emphasized that graduation is not merely the end of an academic journey but the beginning of a new responsibility as an educated citizen. He highlighted the importance of UNNES graduates taking an active role in bringing enlightenment and constructive thought to society.
“With the knowledge you possess, you must take on a strategic role as intellectuals in society—individuals who provide enlightenment and solutions to the challenges we face,” he stated.
The graduation moment also served as a reflection for UNNES, now a State University with Legal Entity (PTN-BH) status, to reaffirm its commitment to producing graduates of strong character, global competitiveness, and meaningful contributions to sustainable development.
The Rector also reminded graduates about the importance of critical thinking amid the rapid flow of information and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). He urged educated individuals to be able to distinguish between accurate and misleading information, and to spread knowledge that benefits the public.
Furthermore, Prof. Martono encouraged graduates to continue expanding their horizons and to take advantage of various career development opportunities, such as the Fresh Graduate Internship Program and the Teacher Professional Education Program (PPG) currently offered by the government.
On this occasion, the Rector also expressed his gratitude to the parents for their unwavering support and prayers that helped their children achieve their academic degrees.
The ceremony concluded with heartfelt congratulations to all graduates and their families. The Rector expressed his hope that UNNES graduates would apply their knowledge to advance the nation and serve as sources of enlightenment in various aspects of life.
Source: unnes.ac.id
