From Soft Skills to Social Commitment: VDMI Builds Student Potential on the ULM Campus
Banjarmasin – Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) hosted a regional meeting for Van Deventer-Maas scholarship recipients on Tuesday (September 30, 2025) in Room SAC 3, ULM’s General Building.
The event was attended by 42 scholarship recipients, consisting of 20 from Palangkaraya University (UPR) and 22 from Lambung Mangkurat University. This meeting served as an important opportunity to strengthen the scholarship recipients’ capacity in self-management, academic development, and social contribution to the community.
On this occasion, Parche Manoto, Head of the Van Deventer-Maas Indonesia (VDMI) Office, stated that the scholarship program is not just financial support, but also a platform for character development and soft skills development.
Therefore, this three-day event demonstrates their commitment to strengthening their mindset for life in the future. This program is designed to enable students to maximize their potential, maintain their commitment to learning, and foster a spirit of sharing.
The Head of the ULM Academic and Student Affairs Bureau, Nieke Rezeki Febriantie, S.E., M.M., welcomed and expressed her appreciation for Van Deventer-Maas’s support of ULM students. She stated that this program will be a valuable resource for developing skilled and competent human resources.
“This program is a long-term investment in developing human resources,” she said.
The first day of activities featured Hari Setyowibowo, M.Psi., Ph.D., who presented on “UnderPressure,” followed by “Thinking, Feeling, Acting,” and “Your Achievements.” This session aimed to provide students with an understanding that success is not solely determined by intellectual intelligence (thinking), but also by a balance in managing feelings (feeling) and how they actually act (acting). It also included how students recognize, appreciate, and set personal and academic achievement goals.
On the second day, Anggoro Mukti, S.Psi., M.Psi., delivered a talk on “Know Yourself – Choose Yourself – Give Yourself,” followed by “When Being Smart Isn’t Enough”—self-awareness and social awareness. These sessions encouraged students to better understand their potential, learn to make wise life choices, and cultivate a sense of caring for others.
Furthermore, these sessions taught students that intellectual intelligence needs to be balanced with emotional intelligence and concern for others, so they are prepared to face the challenges of the workplace and social life.
On the final day, Dr. Yesi Puspita, S.Sos, M.Si., provided students with soft skills in communication. The material covered basic communication, self-concept, and how to build relationships through communication.
