Source: Untar Public Relations – VA
Untar has once again produced a high-quality doctoral graduate who is expected to contribute to national development. On Tuesday (July 8, 2025), Yanti officially earned her Doctorate in Civil Engineering during the Public Doctoral Promotion Session held at Building M, Untar Campus I. She is recorded as the 90th doctoral graduate from Untar’s Doctoral Program in Civil Engineering.
The session was led directly by the Rector of Untar, Prof. Dr. Amad Sudiro, S.H., M.H., M.Kn., M.M., and attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, who also served as Chair of Examiners, Harto Tanujaya, S.T., M.T., Ph.D. Also present were the Main Promoter, Prof. Dr. Ir. Manlian Ronald A. Simanjuntak, S.T., M.T., D.Min., IPU., ASEAN Eng., and Co-Promoter, Ir. Oei Fuk Jin, S.T., M.Eng., D.Eng.
In her dissertation titled “A Model of Competent Construction Workforce Commitment in Sustaining Project Performance in East Kalimantan,” Yanti examined the psychological and structural factors that influence the stability and performance of construction projects in a region that is geographically remote from centers of human and material resources.
The research employed an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Method approach, involving 250 respondents from employees and staff of contractor companies in the quantitative phase, as well as in-depth interviews with company leaders in the qualitative phase. The findings revealed that authentic leadership and motivation have a significantly positive impact on the commitment of the construction workforce, which in turn enhances project performance. Interestingly, the study also found that work-life balance has a negative effect on both commitment and performance in the heavy construction sector, opening up a new discussion on managing work-life balance within the context of infrastructure projects.
The proposed model offers strategic recommendations for contractor companies to manage human resources more adaptively, particularly in remote areas, in order to maintain the sustainability and long-term effectiveness of projects. This research is expected to serve as a data-driven foundation for policy-making, both at the corporate and governmental levels.
In her speech after the session, Yanti expressed her gratitude as well as her hope that her research will bring tangible benefits.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me to reach this stage. I don’t want to stop here. I will continue researching so that Indonesia can become more advanced and prosperous. I hope my research can improve the welfare of the people, especially those who are less fortunate,” she said.
The Main Promoter, Prof. Manlian Ronald A. Simanjuntak, also extended his congratulations along with a message to continue upholding academic integrity.
“Congratulations to Dr. Yanti for successfully defending her dissertation today. My message is, now that you are officially a doctor from Untar, uphold your character, integrity, and the good name of the academic community,” he said.
With Yanti’s inauguration as the 90th doctoral graduate from the Doctoral Program in Civil Engineering, Untar reaffirms its commitment to producing doctoral graduates who are not only academically excellent but also capable of making tangible contributions to society and national development. Through applied research like this, Untar hopes to continue being a strategic partner for the government and industry in addressing development challenges across various sectors.
(VA/AJ)