The Communication Science Studie Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Negeri Semarang, has announced the winners of the International Photo Essay Competition under the theme “Framing Living Heritage”. The winners were announced on 27 October 2026 at Semarak FISIP. Earlier that day, the participants’ works were shown in the photo exhibition “Semarang, Old Walls, New Lives”.
The competition brought together students from Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Indonesia, and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia, working in mixed international teams. The teams began with a Photo Essay Workshop at Kota Lama, a batik workshop, and Lawang Sewu. There they explored how Semarang brings its history back to life, and how its heritage connects with their own cultures. Each team then turned what they saw into a photo essay that tells a story about Semarang’s living heritage.
After a judging process based on relevance to the theme, technical quality and composition, strength of caption and meaning, and originality, the jury selected the following winners:
🥇 First Winner: Team led by Muhammad Naufal Dhanantoro
Muhammad Naufal Dhanantoro (UNNES), Aradhana Pratama (UNNES), Wan Nur Adlin Fadhlina binti Wan Mohd Sabri (UPSI), Nur Adlina Aiman binti Mohamad Hanafiah (UPSI), Adibah Nur Fathana binti Jusman (UPSI), Muhammad Haziq bin Fahrudin (UPSI)
🥈 Second Winner: Team led by Syafrial Ilham Ardana
Syafrial Ilham Ardana (UNNES), Tubagus Ghaizan Altaf (UNNES), Surya Fauzi (UNNES), Nur Wahyuni binti Sapae (UPSI), Fitra Aqilah binti Suhaimi (UPSI), Nur Annisa Adriana binti Azulpardi (UPSI)
🥉 Third Winner: Team led by Dida Alfarizky
Dida Alfarizky (UNNES), Thoriqoh Salma (UNNES), Rizki Maulana Prasetya (UNNES), Muhammad Zul’ Ashryn bin Mohd Zulfaizal (UPSI), Nur Qistina Balqis binti Ayub (UPSI), Nur Anis Sofea binti Mohamad Rodzi (UPSI)
Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to all participants for their stories, perspectives, and work. Through their lenses, Semarang’s old walls have found new lives.
