Balikpapan — Studio assignments, field surveys, and organizational activities during his university years became valuable foundations for Ahmad Diego Febrymursyid, S.P.W.K. in building his professional career. The 2018 alumnus of the Urban and Regional Planning Study Program at Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) is now serving as a civil servant at the Land Affairs Office of the Berau Regency Government. Diego currently holds the functional position of Junior Expert Planner. His daily responsibilities include preparing and processing planning data, aligning national policies with regional priorities, and contributing to the development of the agency’s Strategic Plan.

He is also involved in monitoring and evaluating institutional performance to ensure that government programs are implemented in accordance with the established targets.

According to Diego, his current role is closely connected to the knowledge and skills he gained while studying at ITK. The ability to identify issues, analyze regional conditions, and formulate appropriate strategies plays an important role in producing comprehensive and well-prepared government planning documents.

“Analytical thinking and spatial problem-solving skills have become my primary strengths and have greatly supported me in carrying out my responsibilities,” Diego said.

In addition to technical competence, his organizational experience at university also strengthened his communication and adaptability. His involvement in student organizations and mentoring activities trained him to communicate ideas effectively to stakeholders and members of the public. For Diego, completing Urban and Regional Planning studio projects was among the most memorable experiences of his university years. Conducting field surveys, collecting data, exchanging ideas, and working with classmates helped develop his resilience and ability to collaborate in a team.

“One of the most important lessons I gained from university was how to balance theory and practice. Analytical thinking is very helpful in solving technical problems, but communication flexibility and adaptability are equally important when dealing with dynamic workplace cultures,” he explained.

Exploring Different Career Paths Before Entering Government Service

Before becoming a civil servant, Diego gained experience across several professional sectors. He began his career as an agrarian consultant under the Berau Agrarian Reform Task Force program, known as GTRA ATR/BPN. He later moved into the coal mining sector and worked in Health, Safety, and Environment, or HSE. This experience gave him direct exposure to field-based challenges while broadening his understanding of occupational safety, environmental management, and regional governance. One of his achievements in the mining sector was winning the Silver Trophy as runner-up in the Berau Coal Fire Rescue Competition under the Road Accident Rescue category.

His professional journey then continued into public service. During his Basic Training for Civil Servant Candidates, Diego was named the Third-Best Participant in the CPNS Basic Training Program by Indonesia’s National Institute of Public Administration.

He earned the recognition through an innovation involving a website-based digital platform designed to create an integrated ecosystem for synchronizing cross-service planning activities.

The innovation demonstrated that planning expertise is not limited to preparing official documents. It can also be developed into digital solutions that support coordination, integration, and public administration.

Serving the Government While Promoting Berau Tourism

Outside his responsibilities as a civil servant, Diego is also active as a travel content creator. Through his content, he helps introduce the tourism potential of Berau Regency to a wider audience. This activity allows him to combine his communication skills, visual design abilities, understanding of regional development, and passion for promoting his home region. For Diego, knowledge gained at university can be applied in many different ways as long as people are willing to explore new opportunities.

He encourages current ITK students not to be discouraged by long and demanding learning processes. Every assignment, organizational experience, field survey, and academic challenge can contribute to building professional character.

“Nothing worth having comes easy. Anything valuable is never achieved without effort. Do not be afraid of feeling tired during the process. Continue developing your skills, explore new things, and enjoy every stage of the journey,” he said.

According to Diego, the resilience developed during university will help students deal with change, workplace demands, and career opportunities that may emerge from unexpected directions. Ahmad Diego’s journey demonstrates that Urban and Regional Planning graduates do more than design cities and regions. With strong analytical, communication, and adaptability skills, planning knowledge can also strengthen public governance, support service innovation, and create meaningful contributions to regional development.