On March 22, 2025, a student from Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM) once again made an inspiring achievement. Annisa Desty Vambia, a student of the Public Sector Accounting program at the Department of Economics and Business, won 1st place in the Diploma category at the UGM-level Outstanding Student Selection (Pilmapres). The event was held at the Student Creativity Development Subdirectorate Office, Bulaksumur Blok F11, and was a collaboration between the UGM Directorate of Student Affairs and the Outstanding Student Community (Kommapres).
Pilmapres is a prestigious event aimed at recognizing students who demonstrate academic excellence and actively contribute to various non-academic activities. The assessment criteria include high academic performance, organizational involvement, social activities, sports, arts, and culture. Strong English communication skills are also an important factor. Awarded students are expected to create innovative works that can benefit society.
Annisa’s motivation for joining Pilmapres was to improve her skills and broaden her experiences. “By joining this competition, I learned to better manage my time and mindset. My eagerness to learn continues to grow within me,” she said.
Her journey toward the Mapres title was far from easy. She first competed at the faculty level through two stages: document screening and interviews. In the initial stage, participants were required to submit important documents such as portfolios, supervisor approval letters, innovative product manuscripts, English proficiency certificates, and other documents online.
Once verified by Kommapres, participants advanced to the online interview stage. During her interview, Annisa presented her innovative product: a computer application that gamifies basic taxation materials and exercises. The application allows users to access questions, receive correct/incorrect explanations, and face light punishments when answering incorrectly. “I chose taxation as my theme because education is a priority in the country’s long-term policies, and taxation is both a crucial field in accounting and a pillar of the national economy,” she explained.
From each faculty, three participants with the highest scores advanced to the university level. The university-level selection also consisted of two stages, but the interviews were held offline at the Directorate of Student Affairs. The winners were announced on the same day.
For the diploma category, only one winner was chosen, while in the undergraduate category, three students with the highest scores were selected. In addition, a Favorite Mapres award was given based on participant voting.
Annisa’s achievement not only reflects her hard work but also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through her innovation, she is determined to contribute to improving the quality of education in Indonesia. With her product, she hopes to have a positive impact on society, especially in enhancing public understanding of taxation, which often poses challenges for many.
The title earned by Annisa Desty Vambia at Pilmapres 2025 is a clear example that students can excel in various fields. This accomplishment is expected to inspire other students to keep striving and contributing to the nation.
Writer: Salsabila Maharani