SLEMAN - Aside from Engineering Department students attending university lectures on campus, they also have to attend trips to the field. It is not uncommon having to pass through forests, hills or rivers to get to the locations in the field .

Faiz Akbar Prihutama, a Geological Engineering Program Study graduate from the UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta (UPNVY) Faculty of Mineral Technology confirmed that he has experienced these field trips when he was met at the 2018/2019 Diploma 3 Program, Bachelors and Masters Period 1 graduation ceremony on Saturday (13/10/2018).

"Sometimes we got so tired but our tasks still had to be completed. This is where mental strength is forged, where you have to be patient and happy in these conditions," said Faiz.

He was not only challenged academically but also mentally during his field trips.

"In addition to honing geological instincts, the field trips also developed our physical prowess. The geology field trips also developed mental strength, prompted a spirit of good heartedness, and touched on spirituality", explained Faiz.

While in the field, students also interact with  various local people of different characters and cultures, as geologists must be able to adapt to new environments. Therefore, the field trips also indirectly develop good communication skills.

One of the field trips to Pemalang made quite an impression on Faiz. He and his fellow students learnt about sedimentary rocks associated with stratigraphy. Stratigraphy is a branch of geological science that deals with the definition and provision of rock groups, especially sedimentary rocks, as well as interpretations of geological history.

According to Faiz, Pemalang has great potential to be a place of study in terms of geology and natural disaster issues.

“Many things can be learnt in Pemalang. We can see ideal rock structures just like in the theory books. So us geological students are very happy there, especially the ones who have an interest in sedimentation," Faiz explained.

Faiz conducted research on the evolution of sedimentation drawn from his experiences in the field. The results found that there is a significant change in precipitation zones in the area, with implications that this could be used as a reservoir rock reference on types of clastic volcanic rock.

Admittedly, the field trip experiences were a factor in his success in managing time. Faiz was able to divide his time to complete assignments, be an active student organiser and join various competitions.

This first child of MasmanJajuli and UlfahWidyawati won 3rd place in both the 2017 Generation Geostudent Competition and  the 2017 Indonesian Geothermal Association UPNVY Student Section Paper Competition, 2nd place in the 2018 OGIP National POD Competition by Saka Energy, 1st place in the 2017 GAIA Analysis Project SCG  IST AKPRIND Yogyakarta, and 1st in both the 2018 Mahadaya Mineral Paper and Poster Competition and the 2018 GEODEFEST Paper Competition.

Faiz has also been an assistant tutor for Islamic religion studies, an assistant lecturer, a writer in various journals and for proceedings at both national and international levels.

In his busy life, this Semarang 4 State Senior High School alumni is also active on the boards of UKM KMI UPNVY, KKMI KhoiruUmmah and SM-IAGI UPNVY student organisations.

In regard to his accomplishments, Faiz was also in the top ranking for the KaryaCendekia Award. This 23-year-old officially won the KaryaCendekia Award along with 14 other graduates with a total score of 1.221.

The KaryaCendekia is an award granted by the UPNVY to students who graduate with a high Grade Point Average (GPA) as well as non-academic excellence.

Receiving this award is an honour for graduates of UPNVY. To be awarded the KaryaCendekia means that a student is recognised as being exceptional in both academic and non-academic fields. (wwj/public relations)