UNU Jogja PBI Students Achieve Two National Awards at NEC 2026, Highlight AI Ethics and Environmental Impact

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Two students from the English Language Education Study Program (PBI), Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja), Muhammad Dafa Dwi Andika and Fadhly Abda, achieved outstanding results in the National English Competition (NEC) Indonesia 2026.

Muhammad Dafa Dwi Andika won 3rd Place in the News Anchor category, while Dafa together with Fadhly Abda secured 1st Consolation Winner in the Vlog category. Through their works, both participants not only demonstrated strong English proficiency but also highlighted global issues, particularly the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including ethical dilemmas and environmental impacts.

In the News Anchor category, Dafa presented a broadcast titled The Academic AI Revolution. He simulated the role of both studio anchor and field reporter, covering student debates on the impact of AI on critical thinking skills and campus server energy consumption.

“The preparation for this category was quite complex as I had to design a multi-segment news script. I aimed to present a professional broadcasting standard through audio mixing, graphic integration, and engaging delivery to make the dialogue feel alive,” Dafa said.

Meanwhile, in the Vlog category, Dafa and Fadhly presented Humanity vs. Algorithm: Intentional Computing. In this work, they emphasized that AI should be positioned as a co-pilot for humans, not a replacement. They also highlighted carbon emission impacts from cloud data usage, referring to research from the University of California, Riverside.

Their success, according to Dafa, was driven by strong teamwork. Fadhly handled most technical aspects behind the scenes, including camera direction during recording, video editing, and integration of visual data in the form of informational pop-ups. Meanwhile, Dafa focused on research, scriptwriting in English, and performing as the on-screen talent delivering the message interactively.

“We want to show that technological development must be accompanied by awareness of human values. AI can be a powerful tool if used wisely and responsibly,” Dafa said.

The achievement was also supported by the academic environment of the PBI study program at UNU Jogja. Dafa noted that soft skills training, an English-speaking academic culture, and institutional support played an important role in their participation in the national competition.

“The campus is very supportive. The learning environment in the PBI program helped us develop our English skills and confidence. In addition, the Head of the PBI Study Program, Mr. Khusnul Harsul, also fully supported us, including facilitating the registration funding for the competition,” he added.

The Head of the PBI Study Program at UNU Jogja, Khusnul Harsul, appreciated the achievement. He stated that the success of Dafa and Fadhly reflects students’ ability not only to excel in English competitions but also to present critical ideas on global issues through creative and communicative approaches. [Latifah]