2025 – Regional Meeting Banjarmasin
September 30 – October 2, 2025 — VDMI held a Regional Meeting in Aula 3 SAC General Building at Lambung Mangkurat University (UNLAM). The event was attended by 43 grantees from UNLAM and Palangka Raya University (UPR). The event aims to broaden horizons, strengthen networks, and share experiences among participants from diverse academic backgrounds.
The event was opened by Hj. Nieke Rezeki Febriantie, Head of the Academic, Student Affairs, and Alumni Bureau at UNLAM, who expressed appreciation for VDMI’s contributions to developing the capacity of scholarship recipients beyond funding. Parche Manoto, Executive Director of VDMI, outlined the history of VDMI and emphasized the importance of utilizing this opportunity for personal and professional development.
Over three days, various sessions were held covering topics such as stress management, mental health, self-awareness, and communication psychology. On the first day, Hari Setyowibowo presented a session titled “Indonesia Nowadays—Thrive Under Pressure,” which discussed the mental challenges and stress faced by Indonesia’s younger generation. He reviewed common problems such as low self-confidence and a tendency to overthink. In this session, he taught stress management techniques through setting personal boundaries, positive thinking, and healthy coping strategies. Participants were also invited to practice regular breathing and sensory activation to control their emotions and take a break from the pressures of their surroundings.
Then Kesuma Anugerah Yanti (alumna of Lambung Mangkurat University) shared her experiences as a scholarship recipient, the activities she participated in, and the benefits she gained. She also talked about her journey after graduating from college, such as joining the Global Urban Leader Program and participating in international community activities. Currently, she is the founder of Borneo Urban Lab, an Australian-funded non-governmental organization. She encouraged grantees to take advantage of the various activities organized by VDMI and to be active in social activities in line with their areas of expertise. She also encouraged grantees from Kalimantan, especially in Banjarmasin, to participate in community empowerment programs and become part of their community.
On the second day, Anggoro Mukti discussed self-awareness and determining life direction with a scientific approach to brain mechanisms, particularly the amygdala, which plays a role in fear and motivation. He explained how the brain’s natural response to fear can be controlled through awareness and continuous practice. The main principles introduced were performing repetitive actions to build habits, taking time for reflection, and practicing delayed gratification. This method aims to build mental resilience and the ability to take control of personal decisions.
On the last day, Yesi Puspita delivered material on communication psychology by teaching the REACH method: Respect, Empathy, Audible (clarity of voice), Clarity (clarity of message), and Humility. She emphasized the importance of body language, first impressions, communication ethics, and emotion management in building positive and trusting relationships. Participants were also invited to introspect on their own communication styles and engage in dialogue to improve communication errors in family, friendship, and campus relationships. In the final session, participants presented Student Monitoring System (SMS) Problems with the topics of English, Time, Tools, Family, and Food. Each group provided realistic solutions to each problem. Best Group Presentation: Lupis Group. Best Participants were Fridolin Mere Ghela (Palangka Raya University) and Nur Azizah Luthfiyani (Lambung Mangkurat University). See you at other VDMI activities
