Balikpapan – Students from the Environmental Engineering Program at Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) have achieved another remarkable accomplishment by securing Third Place in the National Indonesian Language Debate Competition for University Students, organized by the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Tanjungpura University in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, from May 2–4, 2026. In addition, Fiqri Cahyadi earned the prestigious Best Speaker award, highlighting ITK students' excellence in critical thinking, argumentation, and public speaking at the national level.

The ITK team consisted of Fiqri Cahyadi (Environmental Engineering, Class of 2025) as team leader, alongside Melin Christin Pakpahan (Environmental Engineering, Class of 2025) and Risky Dwi Zulfikar (Environmental Engineering, Class of 2025). Competing against students from universities across Indonesia, the team demonstrated strong analytical skills, teamwork, and effective communication throughout the tournament.

According to Fiqri, their participation was driven by the desire to prove that ITK students are not only competent in science and technology but are also capable of critically engaging with Indonesia's social and political issues.

"We wanted to show that ITK students can think critically, present well-founded arguments, and contribute meaningfully to discussions on national issues. This achievement marks an important step in introducing ITK's quality and competitiveness at the national level," said Fiqri.

The team underwent intensive preparation under the guidance of Litra Achbar Sahdian. Their training included studying current social and political issues, developing evidence-based arguments, participating in debate workshops led by professional debaters, improving their public speaking skills, and conducting daily debate simulations to enhance both analytical thinking and argument delivery.

Winning Third Place and the Best Speaker title reflects ITK students' ability to excel beyond science and engineering disciplines. The achievement demonstrates their competence in critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, while reinforcing ITK's commitment to producing graduates who are not only technologically skilled but also capable of contributing to national discourse and addressing societal challenges.