UMS 2026 Student Club Expo Draws a Crowd, New Students Encouraged to Discover Their Talents and Potential

Cheers and enthusiasm from new students filled the 2026 Student Activity Unit (UKM) Expo at the K.H. Ahmad Dahlan Edutorium Building, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS). Thousands of new students were seen enjoying the lively event, part of a series of welcome activities for UMS's incoming students.

The UKM Expo 2026 wasn't just a venue for introducing the various student clubs, it was also livened up with the presence of several influencers from various fields, both from within UMS and outside it. The presence of influencers Danang Giri Sadewa and Abdurrafi Afif Ramelan Ashary (known by his nickname Abdur Aluz) instantly added to the excitement, especially when new students were invited to interact and take part directly in a series of challenges.

Cheers from students grew even louder when Danang Giri Sadewa was challenged by a new student to a cycling race. A similar burst of excitement followed when Abdur took on a short-distance running challenge. These moments made the atmosphere at the Edutorium even livelier and created a different kind of experience for new students getting to know student life at UMS.

Hosted by Graffico Eryza Oldiara together with the Director of UMS's DKPTI, Ir. Ahmad Kholid Alghofari, S.T., M.T., the UKM Expo series gave new students a space to see firsthand the range of potential they could develop during their studies at UMS.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ginanjar Rahmawan, S.E., M.M., M.H., an education-focused influencer who is also a UMS alumnus, shared his views on the importance of students making the most of their time at university to develop themselves.

Ginanjar noted that enthusiasm among new UMS students has grown livelier year after year. In his view, improvements in facility quality, event organization, and the quality of human resources at UMS have all helped drive that enthusiasm among incoming students.

"Enthusiasm among new UMS students is always high because UMS keeps improving every year, from the facilities to the events to the quality of the lecturers. The organizing committee also gives their best, which makes new students even more excited," he said.

As a UMS alumnus who completed his Master's in Law there, Ginanjar said he's glad to still be involved in various activities held by UMS, including new student welcome events and seminars.

On that occasion, Ginanjar also encouraged new students not to simply chase popularity as influencers. He urged students to use digital media to produce content that offers real benefit and education to the public.

"These days, maybe not everyone needs to be an influencer, but rather a content creator. Both lecturers and students should be making more educational content. Don't just aim to be an influencer, make educational content instead, because in the end people will look at what contribution you've actually made," he explained.

Beyond developing skills through student activities, Ginanjar reminded new students to manage their time well and set priorities throughout their studies. In his view, the early period of university is the right moment to try out different activities and discover one's own potential.

"Explore whatever talents you have. While you're still new, join extracurricular activities, whatever they may be. But once you're approaching your final semester, focus on graduating on time," he said.

He added that graduating on time is one way students can show responsibility to the parents who have supported their education.

The UMS 2026 UKM Expo became a moment for new students to get to know the various student activity options at UMS more closely. "Through involvement in student clubs, students are expected not only to gain organizational experience, but also to develop competence, creativity, leadership, networking, and achievement in line with their own interests and talents," he concluded.

Writer: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid