
Universitas Brawijaya (UB) targets 20 medals in the 2024 National Student Scientific Week (PIMNAS) competition which will be held on (14/10-18/10/2024) at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Surabaya. From the total of 55 proposals of UB Student Creativity Program (PKM) that passed, 20 teams have successfully advanced to the PIMNAS stage. Intensive preparation and quarantine have been prepared to ensure their success in the event.
Inggita Kusumastuty, Vice Dean III of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIKES), stated that UB’s main target this year is to win 20 medals from all the teams that qualify.
“We have made every effort to accompany all the teams. With 20 teams that qualify, it is easier for us to focus and win more medals, both in the poster and presentation categories,” said Inggita.
To face the competition, UB has begun various preparations, including through intensive coordination with the university’s PKM Center, faculties, and student ranks.
“We held a meeting and will continue to intensify mentoring until the D-day. With synergy between faculties and universities, we hope to complement each other so that all teams are ready to face PIMNAS,” she added.
The Head of UB Contingent, Abu Bakar Sambah, said that preparations for PIMNAS began with an internal meeting after the announcement of the teams that qualified last week.
“The announcement was just last week, so we immediately held a meeting with the PKM Center and friends from the Student Research and Scientific Work (RKIM). In this meeting, we prepared a strategy to develop 20 teams that will compete in PIMNAS,” said Abu Bakar.
Of the total 456 proposals submitted by UB, 55 proposals successfully received funding.
“In the PKM award which is one of the assessments towards PIMNAS, UB successfully won in four categories, including the category of students with the most creative titles. That is the biggest achievement, beating other universities such as UGM and IPB,” explained Abu Bakar.
As part of the preparation towards PIMNAS, UB has prepared an intensive mentoring schedule.
“The first mentoring will be carried out on September 21, followed by the second mentoring on September 28. During this mentoring, the team will practice presentations, make posters, scientific articles, and other outputs. Furthermore, a three-day two-night quarantine will be held in early October to provide motivation, material analysis, and presentation practice sessions,” said Abu Bakar.
Before leaving, the entire UB PIMNAS team had undergone quarantine facilitated by UB’s student affairs.
They received coaching from communication experts, motivators, and discussions with the previous year’s PIMNAS winners.
“This quarantine aims to ensure that the team is mentally and technically ready. We also invite UB’s Public Relations to be involved in this activity,” he continued.
Last year, UB was ranked 7th in PIMNAS with only one gold medal. For this year, Abu Bakar hopes that UB can enter the top three.
“This year we are more selective and focused. From the 20 teams that qualified, there are four teams that have shown extraordinary achievements during PKP 2. We will intensify mentoring for these teams so that they can win medals at PIMNAS,” he said.
Inggita added that one of the biggest challenges in this competition is maintaining the students’ motivation.
“Their emotions and motivation can go up and down, so we have to keep their spirits stable. In addition, technical mentoring starting from the faculty, university, to quarantine stages will also be carried out optimally,” said Inggita. (dilla/UB PR/ Trans. Iir)