Story of Zhafara and Amira Civil Engineering Students' Internship Experience at the Nusantara Capital Authority Project (OIKN)

Bintaro, South Tangerang 03/03/2025 - Zhafara and Amira Najla, Civil Engineering students at Universitas Pembangunan Jaya (UPJ), had the remarkable opportunity to undertake a thesis internship at the Nusantara Capital Project (IKN). This prestigious program was secured under the mentorship of UPJ Civil Engineering Lecturer, Dr. Ir. Resdiansyah, S.T., M.T., IPM, who also serves as the Chief of Transportation of the Nusantara Capital Authority.

Aligned with its commitment to innovation and sustainable development, Universitas Pembangunan Jaya (UPJ) continually encourages students to gain practical industrial experience. With a robust network and unwavering academic support, UPJ is dedicated to offering students the chance to contribute directly to national strategic projects.

“This opportunity is a great privilege for me. I can see firsthand how this national strategic project is run and gain valuable experience that not all students can get,” expressed Zhafara.

During her internship, Zhafara served as an assistant to the Transportation Expert Assistance Team, primarily responsible for documenting minutes during various coordination meetings. The minutes she recorded became official documents utilized as references for subsequent actions in the IKN project.

Amira Najla also found immense value in this internship. “I feel very grateful to be able to see first-hand how IKN transportation discussions and planning are carried out. This is an experience that cannot be obtained only through news or literature,” she shared.

Dr. Ir. Resdiansyah, S.T., M.T., IPM, their supervisor, commended the students' dedication in participating in this internship program. “Internships in national strategic projects such as IKN provide students with a comprehensive understanding of transportation infrastructure planning and implementation. We hope this experience can strengthen their competencies and build their readiness for the world of work,” he noted.

The primary challenge they faced during the internship was ensuring meticulous accuracy in documenting every meeting discussion, especially since these meetings were attended by high-ranking officials and key stakeholders. Nevertheless, this experience offered invaluable insights into how professionals analyze problems, devise solutions, and articulate ideas systematically and effectively.

The Head of UPJ's Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Tri Nugraha Adikesuma, S.T., M.T., acknowledged the students' experiences in interning at a national strategic project like IKN. “This internship program provides students with genuine insights into the world of work, especially in large-scale infrastructure projects. We hope this experience will be a valuable provision for Zhafara and Amira in facing future career challenges,” he remarked.

Zhafara and Amira aspire to continue their professional careers in fields related to their internship experiences, enhance their competencies, and expand their professional networks. They advised other UPJ students to leverage academic networks, prepare themselves mentally and technically, view every experience as a learning opportunity, build professional relationships, and uphold a strong work ethic and professionalism.

“Opportunities can come from anywhere, so always be ready and show your best,” Zhafara concluded.