EduAsiaNews, Semarang – Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman has called on 5,155 new students of Diponegoro University (UNDIP) to build integrity, dare to dream big, and take meaningful action to benefit society. He delivered the message during UNDIP’s Public Lecture for the 2026/2027 New Student Admission Program on Thursday (Aug. 6), emphasizing the importance of Pancasila values and an anti-corruption culture as foundations for shaping the character of the younger generation.
Minister Amran encouraged the Diponegoro Muda, as UNDIP students are known, to view integrity as more than a concept learned in the classroom. Rather, he said, integrity is reflected in the simple decisions people make every day. He recalled a message from his mother that has remained a guiding principle throughout his life: never take something that does not rightfully belong to you.
The message provided a starting point for discussing the importance of an anti-corruption culture. According to Minister Amran, anyone who eventually holds public office, manages resources, or exercises authority must have a strong moral foundation. Professional knowledge and skills will lose their meaning if they are not accompanied by honesty and the courage to uphold one’s principles.
“If you lose your character, you lose everything,” he told the students.
He reminded the students that their university years are an important period for developing discipline, resilience, and a sense of responsibility. Universities, he said, should not only produce academically capable graduates but also individuals who can be trusted.
Minister Amran then connected the discussion on integrity to his experience in government. He highlighted efforts to address practices that harm farmers and the public, including issues involving fertilizer distribution and food trade. In his view, an anti-corruption attitude must be demonstrated through the courage to act when irregularities are discovered, including when violations occur within one’s own environment.
The public lecture was conducted in an engaging and interactive atmosphere. Minister Amran engaged directly with students several times, including those who had already been working or starting businesses while still in school. He encouraged students to have ambitious dreams but not to stop at ideas.
“Make big dream. Big dreams, ideas. But that is not enough. Take action. Action. That is still not enough—you have to be persistent,” he said.
According to Minister Amran, failure is an essential part of the learning process. He shared his own life journey, which began amid economic hardship, involved working from a young age, and included years of setbacks before he eventually achieved success. He offered his experience as an example to encourage students not to give up easily and to begin developing their independence while at university.
The dialogue also addressed issues closely connected to people’s everyday lives. Students raised questions and concerns about fertilizer availability, irrigation, farmer regeneration, crop pests, and food distribution. One student from Alor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, for example, raised concerns about high rice prices in the region. Minister Amran responded by contacting relevant officials to follow up on the food distribution needs in the area.
Photo: Adriano Jeconia Padama, a Diponegoro Muda student from the International Relations Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), presents concerns about challenges faced by communities in Alor to the Minister of Agriculture.
Minister Amran also emphasized the role of higher education institutions in transforming the agricultural sector. The use of drones, modern tractors, and other agricultural technologies, he said, is opening up new opportunities for the younger generation. He encouraged students not merely to become technology users but also to develop innovations capable of addressing real problems in society.
“The institutions that can transform Indonesia are universities,” he said.
At the same event, UNDIP Rector Prof. Dr. Suharnomo, S.E., M.Si., welcomed the new students as they embarked on their academic journey, encouraging them to combine enthusiasm for learning with strong character development. UNDIP seeks to develop the Diponegoro Muda into a generation that is intellectually capable, resilient, open to new ideas, able to withstand challenges, and committed to religious and social norms as well as applicable regulations.
Prof. Suharnomo also encouraged students to become a COMPLETE generation—Communicator, Professional, Leader, Entrepreneur, Thinker, and Educator. Students are expected to pursue knowledge diligently while maintaining a strong commitment to serving the public interest. He also reminded them to honor their parents’ trust by studying seriously, achieving excellence, and completing their studies on time.
The public lecture provided an important foundation for the Diponegoro Muda before they begin their university life. Its messages on integrity, hard work, courage to innovate, and concern for public issues underscored a central principle: higher education is not merely a pathway to earning a degree, but a process of shaping individuals who can use their knowledge responsibly.
This spirit is aligned with UNDIP’s commitment to becoming “UNDIP Bermartabat and UNDIP Bermanfaat”—a university dedicated to producing graduates who are not only excellent but also capable of creating meaningful benefits for society.
