A vibrant and emotional atmosphere marked the graduation ceremony of the Mini MBA Program, a collaboration between the SBM ITB and Kuncie, held at the Menangkawi Auditorium, SBM ITB Bandung, on Saturday (24/5). A total of 113 graduates from Batches 3 to 9 attended the event in person, while 163 graduates from Batches 3 to 12 participated online, bringing the total number of graduates to 276.
The ceremony opened with a welcoming speech by the Dean of SBM ITB, Prof. Ignatius Pulung Nurprasetio, who emphasized the importance of cultivating leaders who think critically and independently.
“At SBM ITB, we aim to produce capable business leaders because good leaders shape the future of their organizations. Learning is a lifelong process, and there is no right or wrong in learning,” he said.
Prof. Pulung expressed his gratitude to the participants for entrusting their learning journey to the Mini MBA program and reminded the graduates to be thinkers, not just followers.
In his remarks, Derrick Heng, Chief Marketing Officer of PT Telkomsel and President Commissioner of PT Kuncie Pintar Nusantara, highlighted the importance of strategic collaboration in generating meaningful impact in education. Since 2022, Kuncie and SBM ITB have collaborated closely to democratize education, making it more practical, relevant, and transformative. He expressed appreciation for the SBM ITB faculty who helped shape the program into a high-quality and applicable learning platform.
“Today is not only a celebration of achievement but also a testament to a strategic collaboration that continues to grow,” Derrick said.
One of the most touching moments came from Laode Muhammad Rahmadan, who was named best graduate. Representing his fellow graduates, Laode delivered an inspiring speech, describing the day as the culmination of an extraordinary journey.
“There is one quote I remember before starting this program: ‘You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.’ This program pushed me out of my comfort zone, balancing work, family, and assignments, but that’s what helped us grow,” he said.
Fellow best graduate Ilma Jayanti also shared her reflections on the program. Expressing her initial interest in pursuing an MBA, she said the Mini MBA served as the perfect first step.
“What I’ll miss most is the group work, staying up late together to complete assignments and the enthusiasm of classmates who were so incredibly active. Three words to describe this program: Life-Long Learning,” Ilma said.
The ceremony concluded with graduates receiving congratulations from the Dean of SBM ITB and Kuncie representatives, along with awards presented to outstanding students. Once again, the SBM ITB and Kuncie Mini MBA program reaffirmed its commitment to bridging academic knowledge with real-world application. With a continued spirit of sustainability, the program is preparing to open the next batch, expanding access for the younger generation to develop their potential and build a brighter future.
