About
Published on
Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Surabaya, FTEIC ITS – Andi Ammarsyah Absan, a student from the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Intelligent Electrical and Informatics Technology (FTEIC), class of 2024, has successfully secured the position of 2nd Runner Up in the Duta ITS 2026 Selection. The Grand Final and award ceremony for Duta ITS 2026 were held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Hall on Level 11 of the Research Center ITS.
For Absan, this achievement is part of his journey for self-development while bringing forth ideas regarding the importance of communication innovation to society. His interest in joining Duta ITS stems from observing that ITS has many innovations with potential wide benefits, but not all are known or understood by the public. Through his role as a Duta ITS, he aims to help bridge and translate these innovations into simpler, more understandable communications.
Absan’s Journey to the Grand Final
Absan’s journey in Duta ITS 2026 began with the document selection stage. This phase became one of his challenges because he only decided to register during the extend period, so preparation was done amidst holiday time within a very limited duration. After passing into the top eleven, participants underwent video assignments to promote aspects of ITS that are rarely highlighted. Absan chose to highlight Buggy Car ITS, which can actually be used for free but many students were unaware or thought it was a paid service.
Subsequently, the stages continued to two interview rounds with the team from Unit Komunikasi Publik (UKP), psychologists, and previous Duta ITS holders. After being selected as one of five finalist pairs, Absan underwent a preparation period that included public speaking training, dance, and insights about ITS. According to him, the Grand Final was the most challenging stage, especially when he faced one English question among five finalists. Support from family, friends, and the audience attending in person or via YouTube broadcast became motivation for him to deliver his best performance.
Preparation and Support from Various Parties
In preparing himself to face the competition, Absan broadened his knowledge about ITS while sharpening his public speaking abilities. Previous experience as a speaker, moderator, and being active in front of the camera helped him build confidence and mental readiness. Regarding appearance, he also began paying more attention to his dietary habits and grooming details.
This preparation was not without support from various parties. Absan received support from family, fellow classmates in Biomedical Engineering, senior and junior students, lecturers, Forum Daerah (Forda) friends, high school friends, as well as acquaintances since the beginning of his university life. This support became a source of spirit that made him increasingly confident throughout every stage of the competition.
Challenges Faced
The biggest challenge Absan faced during the competition process was overcoming fear and insecure, especially when observing the abilities and achievements of the other four finalists. To overcome this, he chose to stop comparing himself with others and shifting focus on self-development. He used others’ achievements as motivation to continuously improve his own capabilities.
Balancing time between university studies, organization activities, and competition preparation also presented its own challenges. A supportive environment greatly helped him maintain that balance. When he fell behind in his classes, Absan actively requested notes or materials from friends; meanwhile, within the organization, he was assisted by peers who could cooperate and adjust task distribution while he focused on preparing for the competition.
Moving Moment at Grand Final
The journey to the Grand Final presented several memorable moments for Absan. One of them was spending time together with nine other finalists during the preparation period until rehearsals for the Grand Final. This sense of community brought the finalists closer and formed relationships like a new family alongside previous Duta ITS holders and the UKP team.
Another equally memorable moment occurred after the event ended. Absan initially thought only few supporters would attend, but it turned out many friends, senior and junior students came directly. He also learned that many others followed the event through watch-together activities. This surprise made him feel touched and realize more deeply the magnitude of support given by people around him.
Making ITS Innovations Closer to Society
As a Duta ITS, Absan aims to continue his initial mission of becoming a communicator that bridges campus innovations with the broader community. He intends to collaborate with various parties to package student works and innovations, including applied technologies from various faculties, into digital content or campaigns using language that is more popular and easy for laypeople to understand.
According to him, ITS should not only be known as a strong engineering university but also as an innovative campus close to society. In addition to these plans, Absan along with other Duta ITS is preparing various activities aligned with the mission of introducing ITS potential and innovations to the community more broadly.
Message for FTEIC Students
To FTEIC students interested in participating in similar events, Absan encourages them to step out of their comfort zone. He believes that doubt about one’s own abilities sometimes actually becomes limits created by oneself. Events like Duta ITS are not merely about appearance but also serve as platforms for learning self-presentation, communication skills, developing personal branding, and conveying ideas to the public.
He also emphasizes that various innovations produced by FTEIC students need communicators who can help convey their benefits more broadly to society. Therefore, he invites students not to hesitate when opportunities arise. Courage to try can become the first step towards discovering new potential and experiences previously perhaps unnoticed. (Humas – Ny)