Source: Untar Public Relations – CJ
The Faculty of Communication Sciences at Universitas Tarumanagara (Fikom Untar) brought students together with communication industry practitioners through Pekan Praktisi 2026, held on October 14–15, 2026, at the Main Building Auditorium, Untar Campus I, Jakarta.
The event aimed to equip students with competencies relevant to the needs of the business and industrial sectors while preparing them to face workplace challenges.
Under the theme “Impactful Collaboration: Strengthening Communication Students’ Competencies through Synergy among Academics, Practitioners, and Industry,” the event featured speakers from public relations, journalism, and advertising. Pekan Praktisi is a regular Fikom Untar program held twice a year to bridge academic learning and professional practice.
Head of the Undergraduate Communication Sciences Study Program at Fikom Untar, Dr. Wulan Purnama Sari, S.I.Kom., M.Si., emphasized the importance of students taking advantage of opportunities to engage in direct dialogue with industry practitioners. The experience and knowledge shared by the speakers were expected to help students determine their career paths and understand the competencies required by the industry.
The involvement of practitioners in the learning process also allows higher education institutions to better understand the evolving needs of the professional workforce. Through these interactions, students are expected not only to be prepared to enter the workforce but also to contribute to companies, organizations, and communities through the application of communication sciences.
One speaker, Erajaya Brand Marketing Assistant Yahya Glori Theo Ambarita, shared his experience entering the workforce. He noted that being receptive to feedback and staying open to learning are important for fresh graduates as they develop their careers.
“As fresh graduates, almost all of us are willing to learn, but not everyone is truly willing to be taught and accept correction,” he said.
Another perspective was shared by Dr. Tria Patrianti, Head of the Master’s Study Program in Communication Sciences at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta. Drawing on her experience as a broadcaster, she explained that applying communication knowledge in professional settings does not always align with the theories taught in the classroom.
Therefore, direct experience, or learning by doing, is essential for developing adaptability. Tria also reminded students that successful communication depends not only on the content of a message but also on the communicator’s ability to understand the audience.
“As communicators, we must deliver messages that are easy to understand. Communication must be audience-oriented,” she said.
Meanwhile, Fikom Untar alumna Fiola Teguh, who now works as Brand Partnership & Community at Mandaya Royal Hospital Puri, discussed the topic “Why Being Smart Isn’t Enough.” She emphasized that academic intelligence and technical skills alone are insufficient to build a professional career.
According to Fiola, individuals need to develop a distinctive value proposition that highlights their strengths compared with other candidates. Professionalism, adaptability, and the ability to communicate one’s value are also important considerations in recruitment processes.
“It is not only a skill set that can attract recruiters’ attention, but also one’s attitude and the way one demonstrates personal value,” she said.
Through Pekan Praktisi, Fikom Untar aims to strengthen the connection between higher education and industry needs. This synergy among academics, practitioners, and alumni is expected to produce graduates who possess professional competencies and can deliver communication solutions for businesses, organizations, and communities.
The event was also attended by Dean of the Faculty of Communication Sciences at Untar Dr. Sinta Paramita, S.I.P., M.A.; Secretary of Untar’s Undergraduate and Master’s Study Programs in Communication Sciences Septia Winduwati, S.Sos., M.Si.; Manager of Student Affairs, Alumni, and Public Relations at Fikom Untar Sisca Aulia, S.I.Kom., M.Si.; and Manager of Research, Community Service, and Cooperation Lydia Irena, S.I.Kom., M.Si. (CJ/YS)