Semarang — The Diponegoro University Alumni Visit Success Story program once again presents an inspirational story from an alumnus of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Diponegoro University. In this edition, the program featured Khoiriyah Sari Pertiwi, S.A.P., an alumna of the Public Administration Study Program class of 2011, who currently serves as the Head of the Personnel, Organization, and Administration Subdivision at the Semarang District Court, under the coordination of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia.

In an interview moderated by Damaris Bernike Bellastuti, M.A., Khoiriyah Sari Pertiwi, S.A.P. shared her career journey, which did not begin directly in the government sector. After graduating in 2015, she first built her career in the private sector, specifically in banking. For approximately three years, she worked at Bank BTPN, eventually reaching a Supervisor position at the Head Office, before finally deciding to take the Civil Servant Candidate (CPNS) selection test in 2019.

“That opportunity had to be tried, especially while still young. I felt there was nothing wrong with opening up opportunities as widely as possible,” stated Khoiriyah during the discussion session.

The decision to move from the private to the public sector bore fruit. After passing the CPNS selection, she was placed at the Pekalongan District Court as a Civil Service Human Resources Analyst. Thanks to performance assessments and leadership trust, she was later appointed as Head of the Personnel and Administration Subdivision. In December 2024, Khoiriyah was officially transferred to the Semarang District Court, which holds Special Class IA status.

In the discussion, Khoiriyah emphasized that Public Administration graduates have very broad career prospects, both in the public and private sectors. According to her, the discipline of Public Administration is multidisciplinary and equips students with the ability to understand systems, processes, and organizational dynamics.

“Public administration is not just about government policy. We are trained to understand bureaucratic systems, human resource management, and even the ability to adapt to change,” she explained.

She also shared academic experiences that shaped her character and professionalism during her studies at FISIP Undip, ranging from field practice in disaster management and coastal community courses to disciplined and rigorous learning experiences with the teaching lecturers.

Beyond academics, Khoiriyah highlighted the importance of student involvement in student organizations. Her active experience in the Social Care Student Activity Unit (UKM Peduli Sosial) served as a means for learning leadership, teamwork, conflict management, and real-world activity management.

“Soft skills like leadership, adaptability, and communication cannot be acquired only in the classroom. Organizations provide a crucial learning space,” she said.

Concluding the discussion session, Khoiriyah conveyed a message to Public Administration students: not to give up easily, to remain open to opportunities, and to consistently develop themselves amidst changing times, including in responding to technological developments and artificial intelligence (AI).

The Diponegoro University Alumni Visit Success Story program is expected to continue serving as an inspirational space for students and prospective students to get closer to the world of work, broaden career horizons, and motivate the younger generation to contribute to the nation through various professional paths.