UNAIR NEWS – Fitra Riyanto, an alumnus of Universitas Airlangga’s (UNAIR) Faculty of Humanities (FIB), has claimed 1st Place in the 2024 Banten Province Young Pioneer Awards in the Education category. As the founder of FIB’s Lingkar Prestasi, Riyanto will now move on to represent Banten Province in the national competition for a spot in the top three.
In response to his achievement, Riyanto expressed both gratitude and a sense of duty, noting that the award brings added responsibility. “This title doesn’t make me proud in itself, but rather adds to my responsibility to stay motivated and actively contribute to the development of education,” he stated.
Riyanto explained that his passion for education was driven by his concerns over the difficulties faced by economically disadvantaged individuals in accessing learning opportunities. “Education must be accessible to all. With my experience, I aim to spread enthusiasm, share information, and foster a brave mentality,” he said.
Role of youth
Riyanto has been engaged in intellectual movements since his time in university, which he credits with helping him recognize issues within FIB. “I established Lingkar Prestasi FIB, and its success inspired me to make a greater impact, which led to founding the Alang Institute, an educational movement in my hometown,” he explained.
He believes the involvement of youth is key to advancing education in Indonesia. Their energy and idealism can accelerate positive change. ” Youth, with their creativity and fresh ideas, can generate innovations and even establish institutions that positively impact Indonesian education,” Riyanto added.
Source of inspiration
Riyanto shared that his long-standing goal has been to inspire new leaders. He hopes to motivate others to become actively involved in the educational field. “By starting a movement, I encourage those involved to expand the impact by replicating similar initiatives in their own communities,” he explained.
He urged students and alumni to identify and address smaller issues in Indonesia, especially those that offer opportunities for meaningful change. ” I hope that UNAIR FIB students and alumni will continue to serve as role models in a society that is in need of inspiring young figures,” Riyanto concluded.
Author: Mohammad Adif Albarado
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
