UNU Jogja Management Student Muhamad Chaerul Faalih Named 2nd Runner Up Putra Bahari DIY 2026

Yogyakarta, Indonesia - Muhamad Chaerul Faalih, a 2024 Management Study Program student at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), has been named 2nd Runner Up Putra Bahari DIY 2026. In the same competition, he also received the Best Influencer Putra Bahari DIY 2026 award.

The 2026 Putra Putri Bahari Yogyakarta Selection is an event organized by the Yogyakarta Special Region Maritime and Fisheries Agency (Dislautkan DIY). The competition provides a platform for young people to inspire others while contributing to the preservation of maritime sectors and maritime culture.

In the competition, Chaerul introduced a Blue Economy initiative focused on empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in coastal areas through digital media utilization, product development, and market expansion.

“My Blue Economy initiative focuses on empowering MSMEs in coastal areas. This aligns with my background as a Management student at UNU Jogja, where I study subjects closely related to economics and business,” he said on Wednesday, September 30.

According to Chaerul, maritime potential can contribute to community economic development without compromising environmental sustainability. He said coastal and marine areas offer opportunities beyond tourism, including MSMEs, the creative economy, culinary businesses, fisheries, and education.

“Therefore, young people can play a role by introducing these potentials to the wider community through education, creativity, and the use of social media,” he said.

Maritime Training and Capacity Building During the Competition

As part of the selection process, Chaerul joined 20 finalists selected from 72 participants in a quarantine stage. During the program, the finalists received various sessions on maritime issues, including maritime policy and development, marine and fisheries sectors, coastal and marine ecosystem conservation, the Blue Economy, Yogyakarta’s maritime potential, as well as maritime culture and local wisdom in coastal communities.

In addition to maritime-related sessions, the finalists also received personal development training covering public speaking, leadership, personal branding, etiquette and personality, catwalk, and table manners.

In the final stages, the finalists underwent several assessments, including a Focus Group Discussion (FGD), advocacy program presentation, and deep interview before advancing to the Grand Final. During the FGD, finalists were required to express their views on marine and fisheries issues in both Indonesian and English.

“In my view, the biggest challenge in this competition was maintaining consistency throughout every stage. Participants were assessed not only on appearance but also on maritime knowledge, communication skills, leadership, ideas, personal branding, and their ability to propose solutions to various issues,” he said.

For Chaerul, the competition was not merely about appearance. It was also an opportunity to demonstrate the younger generation’s concern for and role in the maritime sector.

Therefore, he prepared himself in several areas, from deepening his understanding of maritime issues and improving his public speaking skills to preparing an advocacy idea and developing his personal branding through social media.

He also sought to remain authentic rather than becoming overly influenced by the styles of other participants.

“I wanted to show the character, abilities, and experiences that I genuinely have,” he said.

Public Speaking and Content Creation as Key Skills

According to Chaerul, the skills that helped him most throughout the competition were public speaking and communication. During the selection process, finalists were required to express their opinions, answer questions, deliver presentations, participate in FGDs, and take part in interviews.

“Therefore, the ability to communicate ideas clearly, systematically, and confidently was very helpful,” he said.

His skills in content creation and personal branding also supported him, particularly in assignments and activities involving social media.

These skills have been developed through Chaerul’s activities outside the classroom. In addition to studying in the Management Study Program at UNU Jogja, he is active in several organizations, including HIPMI, HMP, and IKMJ, as well as various youth community activities.

He also actively develops his skills in public speaking, content creation, personal branding, and various personal development and youth programs.

For Chaerul, extracurricular activities provide valuable opportunities to develop communication skills, build networks, work in teams, and interact with people from diverse backgrounds.

Management Knowledge Supports His Maritime Initiative

Chaerul believes that his experience studying at UNU Jogja has also supported his participation in the 2026 Putra Putri Bahari Yogyakarta Selection. As a Management student, he has gained knowledge related to communication, organizational management, leadership, and approaching issues from different perspectives.

“This has been quite helpful when I needed to develop my ideas, deliver presentations, participate in FGDs, and build my personal branding,” he explained.

Beyond classroom learning, the campus environment and his organizational experiences have also helped him become more confident in communicating and interacting with different people.

Looking ahead, Chaerul hopes that his achievement will not only be a personal accomplishment but also contribute to bringing recognition to UNU Jogja.

“I hope this achievement will not only be a personal accomplishment but also bring pride to Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta and motivate other students to develop their potential and take part in various activities beyond the classroom,” he concluded.

Reporter: Latifah