The existence of teaching and learning activities (KBM) in educational institutions is the main objective of universities in carrying out their three pillars of higher education in their organizations. The achievement of improved hard skills and learning outcomes provides students with the legal basis from their institutions. The support of qualified teaching staff with high moral standards is a supporting factor for students in shaping their attitudes. In addition to the creation of hard skills, formal education has enabled several students at Widyatama University (UTama) to integrate the lecture process with their creativity.
This can be seen from Yogi Nur Zakaria, a final year student at the Faculty of Engineering, Informatics Engineering Study Program, who has produced many brilliant achievements that have made UTama proud. Yogi, who is the chairman of the UTama Robotics Community, has earned many achievements, especially in the field of robotics. These achievements are in line with his hobby of creating innovative robot prototypes. His hobby was inspired by the global automotive company Honda, which always launches unique and intelligent robots that help regulate human work. “Designing robots is not an easy task, but my team and I happen to share the same hobby. We try to blend what our lecturers teach us with our respective hobbies,” added Yogi when he was invited to be a speaker at a visitation event from SMAN 6 Garut and SMAN 1 Purwakarta (19/12).
One of the latest achievements by Yogi and his team was at the West Java ICT Exhibition, an event organized by the West Java Communication and Information Agency (Diskominfo) in collaboration with Indonesian ICT Volunteers. They were nominated for the best booth with the most visitor contributions. The robot that represented them at the event was an angklung robot, which was the final project of an information technology student and whose system was refined by Yogi and his team. Additionally, Yogi, who is also a Taekwondo athlete at UTama, is currently designing a new prototype. Starting with an automatic watering robot and an automatic curtain closer, he plans to create a final project themed around smart homes. All household activities can be assisted by the prototype he is designing.
Yogi and his colleagues’ creativity is one of the seeds of an innovative industry that will advance as a new business opportunity in the future. Indonesia’s role in the robotics industry, in particular, could be dominated by Yogi and his team, as their hobby is supported by academic education. The role of institutions in providing tools and supporting media also contributes to creating innovative works that can “break through” creativity and be “globalized.”
