UNAIR NEWS – Surabaya, one of the big cities in Indonesia, has various communities. Therefore it also has a number of cultural heritages. These various heritages indeed bring Ajeng Widya Prakasita to do a research on them. “To me, Surabaya means a lot. I want to know how this city develops,” said the one who reached a GPA of 3.86. Owing to the research, she attained the title of best graduate this March 2017.

The young woman who attained the First Winner of National English Debate Competition when she was in Senior High School reveals that there are 273 cultural heritages in Surabaya. However only five of them which are being preserved. “Those five buildings were just developed and open for public in around 2015 ago,” explained the author of final essay entitled “The Construction of Surabaya’s Identity by the Preservation of Cultural Heritage Buildings”.

Surabaya was once identical with the City of Heroes, but now the 724 year old city is known to be more glamorous and pro economy. “Long time ago, Surabaya was identical with heroism, it’s not anymore. Nowadays it is more glamorous and pro economy,” she said.

Ajeng admitted, finishing her final essay needed a meaningful struggle. She had difficulties in searching for literature suitable for the topic of her final essay. “The literature is limited, even though from the alumni. Only one or two graduates, moreover they are master and doctoral graduates,” Ajeng added.

During her study, Ajeng once served as an external communication staff member of Students Executive Board (BEM) UNAIR back in 2013. She joined the Students Association of Political Science for two periods as well.

“I also have taken part in students exchange program to Vietnam twice. First, as a participant, and the second as an assistant coordinator of students exchange preliminary,” Ajeng said. (*)

Author: Achmad Janny
Editor: Defrina Sukma S