Through Competition, Arief Pursue His Dreams

The scorching August 2022 sun didn’t dampen the motivation of Arief Surya Adhi, a freshman at the Department of Accounting Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), as he walked around the student clubs expo booths in the parking lot of the Edutorium KH Ahmad Dahlan. The student clubs Expo was the first to be held after the Covid-19 pandemic.

In front of the booth belonging to the Research and Student Achievement Development organization (PRISMA), Arief stood still in awe. “The booth was really cool. It was all about research, innovation, and community service,” he recalled during an interview at the Faculty of Economics and Business, UMS, in mid-June.

PRISMA showcased several of its members who had achieved success abroad, including competitions and student exchange programs. Arief was immediately drawn to join PRISMA. “It aligns with my vision and mission,” he added.

Through his involvement with PRISMA, Arief began learning a great deal about research and innovation, from basics like writing proposals, conducting research, writing essays, to presenting work. He challenged himself to enter various competitions, such as essay contests and other scientific writing events.

That knowledge and experience eventually led Arief to international competitions. It all began when his friend, Adin Nur Rohman, an Industrial Engineering student at UMS, invited him to join a team for the World Young Inventors Exhibition 2024 in Malaysia.

They presented a product called Sunspila, a spray-on sunscreen made from spirulina and lavender extracts. Sunspila has an SPF level of 20 and offers three benefits: protecting the skin from UV exposure, preventing premature aging, and repelling mosquito bites. Their efforts paid off with a silver medal in the Household, Office, and Personal Care category.

Competing overseas became addictive for Arief. Still teamed up with Adin, they brought a new innovation to the Japan Design Idea Invention Expo 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. The innovation was called SGIRE, short for Smart Green Industry Renewable Energy.

Arief explained that SGIRE is an eco-friendly industrial waste treatment system. It consists of three waste processing types: organic waste into fertilizer, inorganic waste into biogas, and the destruction of hazardous waste. This innovation earned them a gold medal.

Arief Surya Adhi (second from the left) with his teammates during the World Young Inventors Exhibition 2024 competition in Malaysia, May 17, 2025. 

During his visit to Japan, Arief also stopped by the booth representing the United Kingdom. “They (the UK representatives) gave a presentation about the dangers of stunting,” he recalled. The presentation made Arief realize the potential for stunting prevention in Indonesia.

He began conducting research on stunting and consulted with friends from the Faculty of Health Sciences. Arief challenged himself to focus on competitions related to stunting.

In early 2025, Arief competed in the Thailand Inventors Day 2025 under the team name StuntGuard, the same name as the app they developed. The team was a collaboration between Arief and students from the Faculty of Engineering.

StuntGuard is an innovative app designed to address three key aspects of child development: preventing stunting, encouraging healthy lifestyles, and addressing anxiety disorders in children. It integrates comprehensive nutrition guidelines, growth monitoring, mental health resources, and educational tools.

“StuntGuard aims to provide a holistic solution for parents, caregivers, and health professionals,” said Arief. The innovation once again achieved success at the prestigious annual competition, earning them a silver medal.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Arief pushed himself further by becoming a team leader. This time, he collaborated with students from Informatics Engineering and Public Health at UMS. Arief initiated a digital app called Nutreasy to address issues of nutrition, local economy, and food waste.

Nutreasy combines business elements, educational tools for pregnant women, and healthcare features. The app is designed to track maternal health data, dietary patterns, and nutritional needs, and also serves as a marketplace for healthy culinary businesses.

Arief entered Nutreasy into the International Youthpreneur Competition 2025 held in Kendal, Central Java, last May. The result? Nutreasy was awarded a gold medal.

The student, born in Surakarta on August 11, 2003, drew much of his inspiration from his older brother, a graduate of the Accounting department at Universitas Sebelas Maret. His brother actively participated in competitions across various regions in Indonesia and successfully earned the prestigious Bank Indonesia Scholarship. Unsurprisingly, at his graduation, his brother was named one of the top graduates.

“Back in high school, I was very inspired by my brother. And now I’ve even managed to surpass him by competing in international competitions,” he said with a grin.

After graduating from Madrasah Aliyah Negeri 2 Surakarta, Arief confidently followed in his brother’s footsteps by enrolling in the accounting program. Despite his busy academic schedule, Arief never gave up on pursuing his dreams.

He joined various competitions, both nationally and internationally. One of his major goals was to secure a scholarship. Once again following in his brother’s footsteps, Arief successfully passed the selection for the Bank Indonesia Scholarship 2024, a highly coveted award among students across Indonesia.

“After graduation, I really want to become an academic. I’m building my portfolio to apply for scholarships and for further studies in the future,” he said.

Although he initially experienced a bit of shock dealing with coursework filled with numbers, Arief quickly adapted. In fact, his knowledge of accounting has proven useful in many of the competitions he’s participated in, even when most of those competitions are not directly related to finance.

Arief Surya Adhi. Imam Safii/UMS PR

"Accounting knowledge can be used to manage finances and prepare financial reports. It can also help calculate the break-even point if the competition involves producing a consumer product," explained the young man who admires Indonesia’s third president, B.J. Habibie.

Last August, Arief was chosen as the first runner-up of UMS Campus Ambassador 2024. A major responsibility now rests on his shoulders. A campus ambassador is tasked with encouraging students to be more competitive, boosting academic enthusiasm, and serving as a bridge between the Office of Student Affairs and the wider student body.

Through his role as a UMS Campus Ambassador, Arief actively encourages his peers to follow his path and compete internationally. For example, he offers free consultations and mentoring for students who want to enter competitions.

Arief also earned the trust of Dr. Imronudin, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., Vice Dean III of the Faculty of Economics and Business at UMS. “Before you graduate, Arief, please help mentor your juniors so they can follow in your footsteps and compete abroad,” Arief recalled him saying.

Arief believed that the best of people are those who are most beneficial to others, as stated in a hadith narrated by Ahmad, ath-Thabrani, and ad-Daruqutni. That belief fuels his aspiration to become a lecturer.

“To me, being a lecturer is a noble profession, one that impacts society and inspires students. In the future, I want to empower students to go abroad before they finish their undergraduate studies,” he said with conviction.

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid

Editor: Al Habiib Josy Asheva