Farmer’s Son from Pemalang, UNU Jogja Alumnus Now Builds Career at Multinational Company

Yogyakarta, Indonesia — Kirmanto’s life journey proves that economic limitations do not prevent someone from achieving a brighter future. The Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) alumnus from Pemalang Regency is now working at the multinational company PT Nestlé Indonesia after graduating with a cum laude distinction.

Kirmanto graduated from the Food Technology Study Program under the Faculty of Halal Industry at UNU Jogja. He completed his studies in December 2024 with a GPA of 3.83. Only two months after graduation, in February 2025, he was accepted to work at Nestlé Indonesia and assigned to the Bandaraya Factory in Batang, Central Java, as a fresh milk analyst.

In his role, Kirmanto is responsible for analyzing the quality and nutritional content of milk products at one of the world’s largest food industries.

“I’m happy because this is the result of years of hard work. But the happiest people are my parents. I am the only university graduate among eight siblings, and now I can work close to home so I can visit my family during holidays,” Kirmanto said.

Born in Pemalang on June 20, 2000, Kirmanto grew up in Belik Village, Central Java, in a modest farming family. Both of his parents only completed elementary school. Among his eight siblings, he is the only one who managed to pursue higher education.

Since high school, he had dreamed of becoming either the Minister of Agriculture or a successful entrepreneur in the agricultural sector. After graduating from SMAN 1 Belik, he attempted to enter a public university through Indonesia’s national university entrance examination. However, he was unsuccessful.

He tried again the following year, but the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted his plans due to travel restrictions and safety concerns.

“At that time, my father did not allow me to travel because of the pandemic situation, so I could not take the university entrance selection,” he recalled.

A new opportunity emerged when he learned that UNU Jogja was offering full scholarships through the Indonesia Smart Card for Higher Education (KIP Kuliah) program. That opportunity became a turning point in his life.

“I applied online, completed all the requirements, and received a full scholarship, including monthly living support,” he explained.

Despite receiving financial assistance, Kirmanto still tried to remain independent. During college, he volunteered at the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) in Yogyakarta, helping handle reports related to accidents and disaster response.

At the beginning of his studies, classes at UNU Jogja were conducted online due to the pandemic. It was only in his third and fourth semesters that he could attend laboratory practice sessions directly on campus. During his studies, he was known as an active and diligent student who successfully completed his degree in eight semesters.

According to Kirmanto, studying at UNU Jogja not only provided academic knowledge but also professional preparation for entering the workforce.

“Before graduation, we received guidance from the Employability Directorate, including CV preparation, interview simulations, and professional portfolio building. During my interview at Nestlé, I was able to explain milk analysis techniques that I had learned in microbiology classes at UNU Jogja. That experience helped me pass the selection process,” he said.

After applying to several major companies, Kirmanto received offers from three corporations. He ultimately chose PT Nestlé Indonesia because of its advanced food-processing facilities and its partnership with UNU Jogja.

Now, while continuing to develop his professional skills in the food industry, Kirmanto also has a simple personal goal: making his parents happy.

“My parents are now over 70 years old and no longer working. I want my income to support my family, and hopefully one day I can send my parents to perform Umrah,” he said emotionally.

Vice Rector for Cooperation and Creative Funding at UNU Jogja, Ian Agisti Dewi Rani, stated that the university has consistently prepared students to enter the professional world from the beginning of their studies.

“UNU Jogja students are not only equipped with academic competence, but are also encouraged to gain professional experience early in their university journey. We want our graduates to have real work readiness,” she explained.

UNU Jogja has also developed the Employability Directorate and the Student Journey program to help students map their interests, talents, and career opportunities while connecting them with industries through internships and soft-skill training.

The quality of UNU Jogja graduates was also recognized by Norman Tri Handono, Factory Manager of Nestlé Bandaraya Factory. According to him, UNU Jogja alumni possess strong foundational knowledge in food safety and industrial quality standards.

“They are able to work in teams, show discipline and initiative, and adapt quickly to industrial work culture. In addition, their politeness and Islamic values are unique strengths that make UNU Jogja graduates highly valuable for many industries,” Norman said. [Latifah]