UNAIR NEWS –Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) alumni continue to make achievements. Recently, Lalu Ary Kurniawan Hardi, a 2021 alumnus of the Political Science study program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) got the Best Student Award at Poland’s best research university, Nicolaus Copernicus University.
Ary, his nickname, has made many achievements while studying at UNAIR. He was named 2021 FISIP Best Graduate with an almost perfect GPA of 3.98. Furthermore, he was 3rd for UNAIR Outstanding Student in 2019 and won several awards in debate and writing.
This Mataram native’s commitment and motivation to excel continued to the master’s degree level. “From an early age, I always tried to do what I could, starting from my interests and talents. I also have a motto ‘Life is about fighting until God says it’s time to go home’. So, as long as there is still time and energy to try, I will continue to try to achieve all my dreams,” he said.
Getting NTB Provincial Government Scholarship
Ary admits that his journey to study abroad was not an easy one. To set foot in Europe, he must first take part in the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Government Scholarship (BNTB) selection. Through a long selection process, Ary became one of the scholarship recipients.
“I’m very grateful to get this scholarship. The advantage of this scholarship is that students can have a career and continue their studies abroad. Then, we are also allowed to look for additional scholarships apart from BNTB, and this rule does not apply to other scholarships,” said Ary.
Ary said that his main motivation for continuing his studies abroad was to develop his knowledge in politics. While studying at UNAIR, he only focused on political theories and the national political sphere. Ary hopes that continuing his studies will develop his knowledge of contemporary and applicable political theories and international politics and security studies.
After researching and considering various factors, Ary continued his master’s studies at Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland.
“Poland is a friendly country for international students because the prices for clothing, food and housing are relatively more affordable than other European countries. There are also public transportation support facilities that are even better than in some big countries like France. Besides, the NCU campus is the best research–based campus in Poland,” explained the UNAIR alumnus.
Achieve a perfect GPA
Ary revealed that during his master’s studies, he encountered many challenges because the lectures were fully in English. He admitted that he had to learn scientific terminology in English, which he had never learned before. However, thanks to his hard work and responsibility, Ary overcame these challenges and achieved a perfect GPA.
“I use my free time to read, consult with lecturers, and even ask for outside-class guidance from lecturers whose subjects I think are rather challenging. I am grateful because the educational culture in Poland is very constructive, and there is a lot of support from the professors who patiently guide me,” he said.
In addition to achieving a perfect GPA, Ary also managed to get a job as a research assistant at the Instytut Studiów Politycznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk under the Polish national science agency’s funding scheme, obtained scholarships for outstanding students from the Chancellor Nicolaus Copernicus University, and received research grants from Polish educational and government institutions. (*)
Author: Rafli Noer Khairam
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
