(from left) Dr Benazir Imam Arif Muttaqin ST MT, Dr Anindya Rachma Dwicahyani ST MT, Muhammad Bilal Teguh ST MT, and Bilqis Hanifah Inas ST MT while attending the 132nd ITS Graduation ceremony at Grha Sepuluh Nopember ITS

ITS Campus, ITS News –  The 132nd graduation ceremony of the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) also presented a series of warm moments carved from romantic stories. This time, two married couples (pasutri) successfully completed their study journey together in the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology and Systems Engineering (FTIRS) ITS . One couple earned a master’s degree together, while the other was successfully confirmed as a doctorate together at the graduation ceremony on the third day, Saturday (27/9) afternoon.

Beginning their story, master’s graduate couple Bilqis Hanifah Inas ST MT and her husband Muhammad Bilal Teguh ST MT said that their master’s studies (S2) were the starting point for their meeting. The wife, often called Inas, graduated from the Department of Environmental Engineering ITS in 2022, while Bilal completed his undergraduate studies in the Department of Ocean Engineering ITS in 2019 and had a chance to work. “After that, we both continued our master’s studies in 2023,” said Inas.

The couple, who live in the Kenjeran area of ​​Surabaya, finally decided to marry in December 2024 after developing a close relationship since the beginning of their studies. Inas said that wedding preparations were a challenge that colored her and Bilal’s master’s studies. “At that time, we were a little late in starting our thesis, but thank God, we managed to catch up and finally graduated on time,” said the graduate, born on August 21, 1999, with gratitude.

Despite their academic journey, both believe that their partner’s support is key. Bilal admitted to being impressed by Inas’s perseverance in working on her ergonomics thesis, which also motivated the man born on November 24, 1997, to be more consistent in completing his work on occupational safety. “Whenever we encounter difficulties, we always help each other,” Bilal added.

Muhammad Bilal Teguh ST MT when attending the proposal seminar of his wife Bilqis Hanifah Inas ST MT at the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, ITS

A warm moment was also shared by the doctoral graduates, Dr. Anindya Rachma Dwicahyani, ST, MT, and Dr. Benazir Imam Arif Muttaqin, ST, MT. Unlike Inas and Bilal, the couple, who married in 2019, have been together since their undergraduate studies at Sebelas Maret University (UNS) in 2011, and then their master’s studies at the same campus. “Then I continued my doctoral studies at ITS in 2021, while my husband in 2022,” said the wife, familiarly known as Anin.

This new chapter in the doctoral program was filled with meaningful twists and turns. In 2022, this Solo couple welcomed their first son amidst their busy research and dissertation work. “At that time, we had to take our son, who was not yet a year old, to the 2023 International Conference on Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering (ICIMECE) in Lombok,” explained the husband, affectionately known as Ben.

The couple Dr. Benazir Imam Arif Muttaqin ST MT and Dr. Anindya Rachma Dwicahyani ST MT when inviting their child to attend the International Conference on Industrial, Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineering (ICIMECE) 2023 in Lombok, NTB

In addition to actively attending conferences, the Indonesian Education Scholarship (BPI) recipients have also published in Elsevier’s Operations Research Perspectives and Resources Policy. Another bonding moment came during their dissertation writing process, with Anin focusing on logistics and supply chain management, while Ben focused on engineering and manufacturing systems management. “We often exchanged ideas while working on our dissertations,” Ben added.

Anin and Ben, who are both currently serving as lecturers at different universities, hope that the knowledge they have gained will be of broad benefit. As parents, they also want to continue guiding their young family towards a brighter future. Meanwhile, young couple Inas and Bilal have a simple hope: to grow in mutual understanding and to be able to support each other in achieving their dreams.

The stories of these two graduating couples also reflect Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) point 4, which focuses on quality education. Both Inas and Bilal and Anin and Ben demonstrate that love and commitment can go hand in hand with outstanding academic achievement. The warmth of their stories added a unique touch to ITS’s 132nd Graduation Ceremony. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Putu Calista Arthanti Dewi