Henra, a student in the Fast-Track Master’s to Doctoral program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has successfully completed his master’s degree in an impressive duration, 1 year and 15 days only. This achievement was made possible through his research titled “Antifungal and Antibiofilm Activity of Bacillus velezensis BP1 Against Candida albicans: In Vitro Bioassay, Metabolomics, and In Silico Molecular Docking,” under the supervision of Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D.
Henra completed his master’s studies in the Biotechnology Study Program and is now continuing his doctoral program in the Doctoral Program in Agricultural Sciences, with a specialization in Agricultural Microbiology at the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM (Faperta UGM). He participated in UGM’s Fast-Track program, which allows outstanding students to complete both their master’s and doctoral degrees in just four years. With dedication and hard work, Henra not only finished his master’s degree in record time but also maintained an excellent academic performance, graduating with a GPA of 3.87 out of 4.00.
Explaining his motivation for joining the Fast-Track program, Henra stated that he saw it as an opportunity to complete both his master’s and Ph.D. in less than four years. He also shared his ambition of becoming a researcher at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), which requires a doctoral qualification. According to Henra, the guidance and support from his professors, especially his thesis advisors, played a crucial role in his decision to pursue the Fast-Track program.
However, he emphasized that completing a Fast-Track program requires a strong time management and endurance. “You must be ready for exhaustion because managing time effectively is crucial when pursuing two academic degrees simultaneously,” he shared. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining physical and mental health, stating that despite good time management, one’s well-being is essential for achieving optimal results. Additionally, Henra advised future Fast-Track students to believe in themselves, as self-confidence and resilience are key to success in the program.
Henra’s achievement received high praise from Ir. Jaka Widada, M.P., Ph.D., the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM, who acknowledged his accomplishment during the postgraduate graduation ceremony. “It is proudly announced at the university level that Henra, a master’s student who graduated in just 1 year and 15 days, is now continuing his Ph.D. studies through the Fast-Track program at the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM. Our faculty is committed to supporting sustainable development goals (SDGs), including providing quality education, reducing inequalities, and improving family welfare through broader and easier access to education,” Dean said.
Henra’s success is a testament to UGM’s commitment to accelerating academic progress while maintaining excellence. His achievement aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Author: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami
Documentation: Media Faperta