As human beings, learning is an inevitable process of life. To measure this learning process, we often encounter examinations at the end of each learning phase. As a form of self-evaluation, competitions serve as one of the tests for ourselves regarding how much we have learned and how our learning outcomes compare to others who are engaged in similar endeavors. There are numerous reputable competitions worldwide aimed at assessing the abilities of students, scholars, and professionals in various fields. One of the most prestigious competitions in Indonesia is the Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election, organized directly by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.
The Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election is an annual competition organized directly by the government, specifically through the Ministry of Education, under the National Achievement Center. Being directly organized by the state ministry, this event undergoes a rigorous selection process and is judged by numerous competent judges from various fields of expertise.
With such strict selection criteria, it is only natural that the winners of this competition will reap tremendous benefits, ranging from cash prizes, medals, postgraduate education scholarships, and of course, the title of The Most Outstanding Student in Indonesia, which will bring in further opportunities from other parties.
Before undergoing the rigorous assessment process by the panel of judges, students who wish to participate in this competition are required to read the reference book in the form of guidelines for the organization of the Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election, issued directly by the National Achievement Center.
The main requirement of this competition is that students registering themselves must be in their maximum third year of education (6th semester) and be under 22 years of age. Once these criteria are met, registered students will begin the selection process, starting from the faculty level, university level, regional level, early national selection, up to the final selection of the Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election.
The competition mechanism at each level has its own differences, but generally still refers to 3 main assessment components, namely outstanding achievements, creative ideas, and English language proficiency.
Outstanding achievements constitute a portfolio containing the top 10 accomplishments of students during their academic journey. In other words, Outstanding Achievements represent a collection of students’ accomplishments prior to participating in the Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election competition. To fill in the outstanding achievements, students are allowed to select their best achievements from categories such as championships, recognitions, awards, organizational career, creative works, humanitarian actions, and entrepreneurial experiences.
Each category has different points according to its achievement level, ranging from 3 points to 50 points for the highest level. If a student has obtained 10 certificates at the international level, then they already have a provision of 500 points to compete in this competition. However, besides considering the level of achievement, the credibility of the competition organizer or certificate-granting institution is also very important to consider. In Indonesia, achievement certificates are recognized if they are issued by legally registered universities or institutions listed in the General Legal Administration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
In addition to outstanding achievements, assessment is also derived from the creative ideas of each student. Creative ideas consist of scientific papers that are composed as concisely and clearly as possible in describing the innovative ideas of students for society and the nation. The ability to write, argue, and articulate opinions becomes crucial in this assessment.
Not to forget, topics that align with the Sustainable Development Goals are the main points that must emerge in the implementation of these creative ideas. The creative ideas written will later be presented in front of the panel of judges and examined through a series of question-and-answer sessions.
Lastly, another equally important assessment component is the students’ proficiency in the English language. As a universal language used worldwide, English is considered crucial for a student to learn and socialize with the global community. Moreover, the government also hopes that the most outstanding students will be able to represent the government in various international forums in the future. Therefore, the assessment of English proficiency is also a significant indicator for winning this competition. Assessment will be conducted through various methods, such as question-and-answer sessions, focus discussion groups, and leaderless discussion groups using the English language.
Despite the three assessment components mentioned, as one of the finalists of this competition who was also honored as the national-level outstanding student in 2023, I found that the Indonesian government, through the Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election competition, aims to seek the best students of the nation who have dedication to academia and social service. After undergoing about 6 months of selection process, I realized that the most important thing that should exist in the character of an outstanding student is contribution to the country, both academically and socially.
Academic contributions are seen through achievements in competitions and scholarly participation manifested in research published in reputable journals. Meanwhile, social contributions are seen from students community service movements in their surrounding communities. Thus, it is not surprising that the finalists of the Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election in 2023 were the best students from all regions of Indonesia who were active in various national and international organizations, become founder of foundations at a young age, and received high accolades from accredited institutions.
The Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election is a highly significant competition as it is capable of providing tremendous positive impact on its participants. Students who are honored as national-level outstanding students will certainly receive many positive affirmations, including from various companies offering various job opportunities and scholarship for further studies. Besides facilitating the job search process, with this competition, students also gain various learnings that can be applied in the future workplace.
Students are trained to think critically, creatively, and innovatively, and are able to communicate their ideas to others in an easily understandable language, both orally and in writing. The Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election also requires its students to be confident, able to work collaboratively in teams, possess good character and morals, and manage their time as efficiently as possible for various activities. These various learnings will have a positive impact on future careers.
After becoming accustomed to critical thinking and communicating it to others, in the future workplace, students will find it easier to come up with creative ideas and present them to our colleagues. Good time management habits also serve as preparation for engaging in the workforce. Additionally, the English language and attitude assessment in this competition will also encourage us to maintain ethics and manners in everyday life, which are the most needed qualities in every individual’s career and socialization in their respective environments.
The Indonesia’s Most Outstanding Student Election is a competition that not only recognizes academic achievements, but also values student’s leadership, creativity, and social contributions. By participating in this competition, students not only learn how to compete effectively, but also how to innovate and overcome challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.
Through this experience, students can open doors to a brighter future career and make positive contributions to building the future of nation and the world. As Andrew Whitworth said, “If you are a true warrior, competition doesn’t scare you. It makes you better”, this reputable competition is not just about finding the most outstanding students, but also about unlocking their potential and shaping a better future for themselves, their communities, their nation, and the world.
By: Noerul Hanin
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