Ahead of its 136th graduation ceremony, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) held a preparatory program titled “After the Gown, What’s Next?” for prospective graduates. The event focused on two main agendas: strengthening graduate capacity and expanding career opportunities through an on-site recruitment session conducted by Bank Mandiri.
During the briefing, Hendri Irawan, Lecturer of Civic Education at Universitas Negeri Surabaya and awardee of both BPI and LPDP scholarships, emphasized the importance of self-discovery, career planning, and early preparation of professional documents.
In his presentation, delivered Friday, December 5, at the C7 Hall of FISIP UNNES in Sekaran, Gunungpati, Semarang, Hendri encouraged students to reflect critically on their future direction. “Ask yourself: after graduation, where do I want to go? Don’t pursue scholarships or continue your studies just because everyone else is doing it,” he said.
He added that scholarship opportunities are widely available including LPDP, Australia Awards, Fulbright, and Chevening but require strong motivation and well-prepared documents. Hendri reminded graduates to avoid pursuing postgraduate studies merely as a trend, urging them instead to understand the urgency and personal development goals behind such decisions.
In addition to motivational guidance, participants received practical design skills training from Krisbaya Bayu Firdaus, Manager of Ruang Temu Guru, who introduced basic and advanced features of Canva, including the use of Magic AI to enhance visual communication. Such skills, he noted, have become essential for fresh graduates as the demand for creative content and personal branding continues to rise.
FISIP UNNES Dean, Prof. Arif Purnomo, also addressed the prospective graduates, emphasizing the need for integrity after leaving campus life. He reminded them that academic success is not achieved alone but through the support of parents, lecturers, and educational staff. He urged graduates to uphold the reputation of themselves, their families, and their alma mater as they enter the professional world.
The second focus of the event highlighted expanded career access for FISIP graduates. Through a collaboration with Bank Mandiri, the faculty facilitated a walking interview session for the Officer Development Program (ODP), conducted directly by the Regional Mandiri University Operation team of PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk, led by Joko Priono Fitriyanto.
Prospective graduates participated in one-on-one interviews as the initial stage of the recruitment process. This initiative reflects Bank Mandiri’s commitment to supporting SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and strengthening youth employability in Indonesia. “We want to open opportunities for FISIP graduates to enter the banking sector. Graduates of social sciences and humanities possess competencies that we highly value,” Joko stated.
For FISIP UNNES, this partnership also aligns with SDG 4: Quality Education, particularly in enhancing the transition of students from higher education to the professional workforce.
The 136th UNNES graduation ceremony will be held on December 6, 2025, at the Prof. Wuryanto Auditorium, with 188 FISIP graduates set to participate. Through this preparation program, the faculty aims to ensure graduates enter the workforce with stronger competencies, clearer direction, and greater confidence.
