A COUPLE OF HUSBAND AND WIFE EARNED THEIR DOCTORATES AT UI, MOTIVATED BY THEIR SON WHO HAD GRADUATED FIRST FROM FTUI
Dr. Suhartono, S.IP., M.PP from the Faculty of Administrative Sciences (FIA) at Universitas Indonesia (UI) and Dr. Anna Armeini Rangkuti, S.Psi., M.Si. from the Faculty of Psychology (FPsi) UI, earned their doctorates and graduated together at the Odd Semester Graduation for the 2022/2023 Academic Year at Balairung UI, Depok Campus, on Friday (10/3). Interestingly, last semester, their son, Muhammad Rais Rahmatullah, graduated from the undergraduate program of the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering UI (FTUI). Dr. Anna said that her son’s graduation motivated them to graduate sooner.
Anna received her doctorate after finishing research entitled “Mekanisme Pelemahan Silence Mahasiswa Saksi Kecurangan Akademik melalui Peran Mediasi Seriousness of Academic Cheating dalam Perspektif Pengambilan Keputusan Etis“. Meanwhile, her husband graduated after finishing a dissertation entitled “Tatakelola Proses Perencanaan dan Penganggaran di Pemerintah Pusat (2005–2017): Tinjauan Interaksi Aktor dan Lembaga”. Both of their education is funded by the government through Indonesian Education Scholarships (BPI) from the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP) and scholarships from the Secretariat General of the People’s Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI).
Even so, this success was realized along with challenges. Suhartono said they had to manage their time between lectures, research, and other matters. For example, on Monday-Thursday, they focus on dissertation research; on Friday, they focus on spiritual needs as a form of relaxation, and on Saturday-Sunday, they allocated the days for family time. The schedule is flexible and can be adjusted according to the situation and conditions.
As a mother, Anna admitted that she must be able to balance obligations. “It’s impossible for my husband and me to be antisocial during the learning assignment process, so we have to be able to do our dissertation assignments, take care of our family, and be with our extended family and the environment around us. In fact, this allocation of time makes our lives more balanced and reduces academic stress that usually affects students, especially doctoral students,” said Anna.
According to her, during her doctoral studies, she experienced many pleasant things. As a fellow UI student, she and her husband and children often enjoy being together on campus, especially in several canteens at UI. Apart from that, while doing their study assignments, she and her husband often enjoy togetherness which was very difficult to get before because of busy work in their respective offices. They often have discussions about research and even take part in research methodology training several times inside and outside the city.
The success of Anna and her husband and children represents educational success in the smallest sphere, which is the family. It never occurred to anyone that a child’s enthusiasm for finishing education could encourage both parents to take part in learning even at a no longer young age. “At the same time, we want to give an example to children that learning is lifelong journey,” said Anna.
Author: Giany/Sasa
