An unyielding spirit and a resilient mentality were the key assets for Ahmad Ridho Akranata, an ITK Material & Metallurgical Engineering alumnus from the class of 2013, on his successful career path in the national manufacturing industry. Currently, Ridho works as a Product Development Engineer at PT. Komatsu Remanufacturing Asia, a company focused on development and innovation in remanufacturing.

University Life at a “Pioneer Campus”

Ridho vividly remembers the early days of the Kalimantan Institute of Technology (ITK). Limited facilities, a reliance on generators for electricity, and the constant sound of piling during classes never dampened his spirit.

"For four years at ITK, besides attending lectures, I was also an active lab assistant and joined student organizations. Even with many limitations, it actually motivated us more because we felt like the pioneers of ITK," he recalls.

ITK Shaped His Personality and Mindset

For Ridho, ITK was more than just a place to study; it was a place that shaped his character. He learned not to give up easily, to find solutions to every problem, and to hone his ability to work in a structured manner.

"As an introvert, I learned a lot at ITK. From giving presentations and joining organizations to coordinating with others. These things have been very helpful in my professional life," he said.

Essential Values Carried into the Workplace

Attitude and a resilient mindset are the core values that Ridho has maintained since his time in college. In the workplace, he is challenged to always find cost-effective and efficient solutions, especially in the field of engineering, which heavily emphasizes cost reduction.

Furthermore, his skill in managing work priorities, which he developed in college, has also proven to be invaluable. "Setting priorities is very important so that work can be completed on time," he explained.

Innovations and Achievements at Work

Ridho's career journey is marked by various innovations and brilliant achievements. He has received national and international awards, including:

• Golden Medal (1st Winner) in the global Komatsu Group innovation competition (2023).
• 3x Best Story at the Komatsu Group Indonesia innovation competition (2022–2024).
• 2x Grand Finalist in the United Tractors Group Indonesia innovation competition (2022, 2024).
• Grand Finalist in the Astra Group innovation competition (2023).
• Best Presenter at the Komatsu Group Indonesia innovation competition (2025).
• 2x Best Employee at PT. Komatsu Remanufacturing Asia in the Generalist 2 category (2023, 2024).

This list of achievements proves that ITK alumni are capable of competing, even at the international level.

ITK Alumni: Resilient and Innovative

According to Ridho, the key strength of ITK alumni lies in their resilient and innovative mindset. "With a newly established campus and limited facilities, ITK alumni are accustomed to facing challenges. That's what builds our tough and innovative mentality," he stated.

Ridho further emphasized that a university is essentially a place to build a way of thinking, train one’s perspective on problems, and expand social and professional networks. How far someone can go is determined by the individual themselves, not solely by the university's big name.

"I want ITK students to be confident and proud to be a part of ITK. Never feel inferior just because of the campus name. The most important thing is how we build our skills, mentality, and concrete contributions that we can bring to the professional world," he added.

A Message for ITK Students

Ridho stressed that life's journey isn't just about being accepted or not accepted somewhere, but about how we can continue to grow by unleashing our full potential.

"Wherever you are, you are actually in a competition with yourself. The competition isn't just about winning or losing, but about how you can use all your best abilities to show your true potential," he advised.

In closing, Ridho left one important message:

"Let's not only be proud of our campus's great name, but also be proud when our contributions make the campus even greater."