UNPRI Graduation Ceremony: Adaptive Graduates in the AI Era
The Rector of Universitas Prima Indonesia (UNPRI), Prof. Dr. Chrismis Novalinda Ginting, M.Kes., reminded graduates that their academic degree should not mark the end of their learning process.
Amidst changes in the labor market driven by digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI), graduates are expected to be continuously adaptable, think critically, and possess the ability to devise ideas and solutions.
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Prof. Dr. Chrismis Novalinda Ginting conveyed this message during the graduation ceremony for the eighth semester of 2026 at Universitas Prima Indonesia, held from Thursday, August 27, to Saturday, August 29, 2026, in the auditorium of the UNPRI main campus on Jalan Sampul in Medan.
The ceremony was attended by graduates from various levels of study, ranging from Diploma 3, Applied Bachelor, and Bachelor to Professional, Master, Specialist, and Doctoral programs.
“Your knowledge must not stop at what you learned in the lecture hall. You must be capable of continuous learning, adapting to change, thinking critically, communicating effectively, collaborating, and presenting ideas and solutions with confidence,” said Professor Chrismis.
According to her, the world graduates are entering is changing rapidly. Digital transformation, artificial intelligence, big data, the green economy, and technological advancements have transformed the way people work, communicate, and create value.
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However, these changes present more than just challenges. Underlying them, Professor Chrismis noted, are opportunities for the emergence of various innovations, new fields of work, and professions. Therefore, he encouraged UNPRI graduates to possess not only academic competence but also character, leadership, creativity, and the ability to collaborate.
“Embrace the spirit of lifelong learning. Continue to update your knowledge, broaden your experience, and hone your skills, as the professional world will keep evolving long after you have left the lecture hall,” he said.
Prof. Chrismis stated that this mindset aligns with UNPRI’s commitment to strengthening its outcome-oriented curriculum, expanding partnerships, and integrating technology into the learning process.
This is also part of UNPRI’s efforts to realize its vision: “To become a leading university in the field of socio-technological entrepreneurship that is adaptive and innovative.”
He also urged the graduates to carry the spirit of socio-technological entrepreneurship into their lives after graduation.
Graduates are expected to be bold in generating ideas, to recognize opportunities, to possess a social conscience, and to use their knowledge to provide solutions to problems in their communities.
“Success is defined not only by the position you attain but also by the quality of the decisions you make and the impact you create through your respective professions,” he said.
In his address, Chrismis also highlighted UNPRI’s commitment to continuous development by strengthening the ‘Tri Dharma’ (Three Pillars) of higher education, enhancing academic quality, and developing networks and partnerships.
According to him, achieving institutional accreditation with the “Unggul” (Excellent) rating is not the endpoint, but rather part of a journey to continuously improve quality and advance toward international academic recognition and networking. UNPRI currently offers 60 study programs, ranging from diploma, bachelor, professional, master, and specialist courses to doctoral programs, including the development of programs outside the main campus in Pekanbaru.
“This development demonstrates that UNPRI continues to provide the community with opportunities to pursue high-quality higher education, while simultaneously expanding the university’s contribution to meeting development needs and advancing science,” he said.
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Chrismis also reminded the graduates that obtaining an academic degree entails the responsibility to use knowledge responsibly, uphold professionalism, and contribute through their chosen fields.
“Use your knowledge to solve problems. Use your skills to help others. And seize the opportunities you have to create something valuable,” he advised.
The graduation ceremony for the eighth semester of 2026 holds special significance for UNPRI, as it marks the launch of several educational programs.
Prof. Chrismis congratulated the first graduates from the Radiology, General Practice, Master of Nursing, Master of Public Health (at the Pekanbaru campus), and Bachelor of Architecture programs.
As the inaugural graduates, they are part of the early years of these programs and offer a glimpse into the quality and character of the graduates they produce.
“I hope you demonstrate strong competence and professionalism in your respective fields, thereby establishing a positive foundation for the next generation,” he said.
The graduation ceremony was further enriched by the awarding of honorary doctorates to three individuals in recognition of their outstanding contributions, dedication, and service in their respective fields.
The three recipients were Mr. Exequiel P. Yumang (physician), Mr. Al Farabi Lee Jaafar (physician), and Dr. Marzuki Ali Basyah (Doctor of Law).
“On behalf of the Universitas Prima Indonesia family, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations and deepest respect to the three honorary doctorate recipients,” said Chrismis.
He hopes that the exemplary work of these three individuals will inspire the younger generation to further develop their knowledge and skills and contribute to society.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Syaiful Anwar Matondang, MA, Ph.D., Head of the Higher Education Service Institute (LLDikti) Region I North Sumatra, reminded the graduates that the path ahead would not be easy. They would still need to put in significant effort to secure employment amidst current challenging economic conditions.
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“The UNPRI graduates receiving their degrees today will certainly need to work hard to find employment. We are currently facing immense economic challenges worldwide, spanning from Asia and Europe to the Americas,” he said. However, according to Syaiful, these challenges must be met with extensive, professional knowledge and skills.
“In these difficult times, God surely blesses us with extensive and professional knowledge and skills that are respected both in Indonesia and abroad,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Executive Board (BPH) of the Prima Indonesia Higher Education Foundation, Prof. Dr. Tommy Leonard, SH, MKn, told reporters on Saturday, August 29, 2026, that UNPRI graduates should not rely solely on academic competence.
According to him, character, integrity, adaptability, and the courage to face changing times are vital qualities for graduates, especially given the rapidly accelerating development of technology and artificial intelligence.
“Be graduates who do not merely seek employment but are also capable of creating opportunities; who pursue not only personal success but also benefit others,” said Prof. Tommy.
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Attendees at the graduation ceremony included UNPRI founder Prof. Dr. Dr. I Nyoman Ehrich Lister, M.Kes., AIFM., Sp.K.K.L.P.; the Chair of the Prima Indonesia Higher Education Foundation, Dr. Drg. Florenly, MHSM., MPH., C.Ort., FICCDE; UNPRI academic advisor Prof. Dr. Dr. Farhat, M.Ked (ORL-HNS), Sp.T.H.T.K.L (K); the Director of Prima Dental and Oral Hospital, Dr. Drg. Florenly, MHSM., MPH., C.Ort., FICCDE; as well as vice-rectors, heads of institutions and departments, deans, and the graduates’ families.
Also present was Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Abu Hassan A. Abdullah from the Malaysian Medical Council. Al Farabi Lee Jaafar, MD, Chairman of the Philippine Board of Cosmetic Surgery (PBCS) of the Republic of the Philippines; President of the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery; Exequiel P. Yumang, MD, President of the Philippine Federation of Cosmetic Surgeons of the Republic of the Philippines; Secretary of Nias Regency, Samson P. Zai, S.H., M.H.; and Deputy Regent of Toba Regency, Drs. Audy Murphy O. Sitorus, S.H., M.Si. ***rel
Wisuda UNPRI : Jadilah Lulusan Adaptif di Era AI
Rektor Universitas Prima Indonesia (UNPRI) Prof. Dr. Chrismis Novalinda Ginting, M.Kes., mengingatkan para lulusan agar tidak menjadikan gelar akademik sebagai akhir dari proses belajar.
Di tengah perubahan dunia kerja yang dipengaruhi transformasi digital dan kecerdasan buatan (AI), lulusan dituntut terus beradaptasi, berpikir kritis, serta mampu menciptakan gagasan dan solusi.
Pesan itu disampaikan Prof. Dr. Chrismis Novalinda Ginting dalam pidatonya pada Wisuda Periode VIII Tahun 2026 Universitas Prima Indonesia yang digelar Kamis hingga Sabtu, 27 – 29 Agustua 2026, di Aula Kampus Utama UNPRI, Jalan Sampul, Medan.
Wisuda tersebut diikuti lulusan berbagai jenjang pendidikan, mulai Diploma Tiga, Sarjana Terapan, Sarjana, Profesi, Magister, Spesialis hingga Doktor.
“Bekal Saudara tidak boleh berhenti pada apa yang telah dipelajari di ruang kuliah. Saudara perlu memiliki kemampuan untuk terus belajar, beradaptasi terhadap perubahan, berpikir kritis, berkomunikasi secara efektif, bekerja sama, serta berani menghadirkan gagasan dan solusi,” kata Prof Chrismis.
Menurutnya, dunia yang akan dihadapi para lulusan terus berubah dengan cepat. Transformasi digital, kecerdasan buatan, big data, ekonomi hijau dan perkembangan teknologi telah mengubah cara manusia bekerja, berkomunikasi dan menciptakan nilai.
Namun, perubahan tersebut tidak semata-mata menjadi tantangan. Di balik perubahan, kata Prof Chrismis, terdapat peluang lahirnya berbagai inovasi, bidang pekerjaan dan profesi baru.
Karena itu, ia mendorong para lulusan UNPRI menjadi pribadi yang tidak hanya memiliki kompetensi akademik, tetapi juga karakter, kepemimpinan, kreativitas dan kemampuan bekerja bersama orang lain.
“Pegang teguh semangat lifelong learning. Teruslah memperbarui pengetahuan, memperluas pengalaman, dan meningkatkan kemampuan, karena dunia profesional akan terus berkembang jauh setelah Saudara meninggalkan ruang kuliah,” ujarnya.
Prof Chrismis mengatakan, semangat tersebut sejalan dengan komitmen UNPRI yang terus memperkuat kurikulum berbasis outcome, memperluas kemitraan serta mengintegrasikan teknologi dalam proses pembelajaran.
Hal itu sekaligus menjadi bagian dari upaya mewujudkan visi UNPRI, yakni “Menjadi Universitas Unggul dalam bidang Socio Technopreneurship yang adaptif dan inovatif.”
Ia pun meminta para lulusan membawa semangat socio technopreneurship dalam kehidupan setelah meninggalkan kampus.
Lulusan diharapkan berani menciptakan gagasan, mampu melihat peluang, memiliki kepedulian sosial dan menggunakan ilmu pengetahuan untuk menghadirkan solusi bagi persoalan di lingkungan sekitar.
“Keberhasilan tidak hanya ditentukan oleh seberapa tinggi posisi yang dapat Saudara capai, tetapi juga oleh kualitas keputusan yang Saudara ambil dan dampak yang Saudara berikan melalui profesi masing-masing,” katanya.
Dalam pidatonya, Chrismis juga menegaskan komitmen UNPRI untuk terus berkembang melalui penguatan Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi, peningkatan mutu akademik serta pengembangan jejaring dan kerja sama.
Menurutnya, pencapaian akreditasi institusi dengan predikat Unggul bukanlah titik akhir, melainkan bagian dari perjalanan untuk terus meningkatkan kualitas sekaligus mempersiapkan langkah menuju pengakuan dan jejaring akademik internasional.
Saat ini, UNPRI telah memiliki 60 program studi mulai jenjang Diploma, Sarjana, Profesi, Magister, Spesialis hingga Doktor, termasuk pengembangan Program Studi di Luar Kampus Utama di Pekanbaru.
“Perkembangan tersebut menunjukkan bahwa UNPRI terus membuka ruang bagi masyarakat untuk memperoleh pendidikan tinggi yang berkualitas, sekaligus memperluas kontribusi perguruan tinggi dalam menjawab kebutuhan pembangunan dan perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan,” ungkapnya.
Chrismis juga mengingatkan para wisudawan bahwa gelar akademik yang diterima membawa konsekuensi berupa tanggung jawab untuk menggunakan ilmu secara bertanggung jawab, menjunjung profesionalisme dan memberikan manfaat melalui bidang yang ditekuni.
“Gunakan pengetahuan untuk menyelesaikan persoalan. Gunakan keahlian untuk membantu sesama. Dan gunakan kesempatan yang Saudara miliki untuk menciptakan sesuatu yang bernilai,” pesannya.
Wisuda Periode VIII Tahun 2026 memiliki arti khusus bagi UNPRI karena menjadi bagian dari perjalanan awal sejumlah program pendidikan.
Prof Chrismis menyampaikan selamat kepada wisudawan dan wisudawati angkatan pertama Program Pendidikan Dokter Spesialis Radiologi, Program Pendidikan Dokter Spesialis Kedokteran Keluarga Layanan Primer, Program Studi Magister Keperawatan, Program Studi Magister Kesehatan Masyarakat Kampus Kota Pekanbaru serta Program Studi Sarjana Arsitektur.
Sebagai lulusan angkatan pertama, mereka dinilai menjadi bagian dari sejarah awal perkembangan program-program tersebut sekaligus menjadi gambaran awal kualitas dan karakter lulusan yang dihasilkan.
“Saya berharap Saudara dapat menunjukkan kompetensi dan profesionalisme yang baik dalam menjalankan bidang masing-masing, sehingga perjalanan Saudara dapat menjadi fondasi positif bagi generasi berikutnya,” katanya.
Momentum wisuda juga semakin istimewa dengan penganugerahan gelar Doktor Honoris Causa kepada tiga tokoh atas kontribusi, dedikasi dan pengabdian luar biasa di bidang masing-masing.
Ketiga penerima gelar tersebut yakni Mr. Exequiel P. Yumang, MD, dalam bidang Ilmu Kedokteran; Mr. Al Farabi Lee Jaafar, MD, dalam bidang Ilmu Kedokteran; dan Drs. Marzuki Ali Basyah, M.M., dalam bidang Ilmu Hukum.
“Atas nama keluarga besar Universitas Prima Indonesia, saya menyampaikan selamat dan penghormatan yang setinggi-tingginya kepada ketiga penerima Doktor Honoris Causa,” ujar Chrismis.
Ia berharap keteladanan ketiga tokoh tersebut dapat menginspirasi generasi muda untuk mengembangkan ilmu, membangun karya dan memberikan manfaat bagi masyarakat.
Sementara itu, Kepala Lembaga Layanan Pendidikan Tinggi (LLDikti) Wilayah I Sumut Prof. Drs. Syaiful Anwar Matondang, MA., Ph.D., mengingatkan para lulusan bahwa perjalanan setelah wisuda tidak otomatis mudah. Mereka masih harus berjuang memasuki dunia kerja di tengah kondisi ekonomi global yang penuh tantangan.
“Lulusan UNPRI yang diwisuda hari ini tentu masih harus berjuang untuk mendapatkan pekerjaan. Pada saat sekarang ini, kondisi global ekonomi kita mulai dari Asia, Eropa sampai Amerika mengalami kesulitan yang luar biasa,” katanya.
Namun, menurut Syaiful, kesulitan tersebut harus dihadapi dengan bekal ilmu pengetahuan dan keterampilan yang lengkap serta profesional.
“Di dalam kesulitan itu tentunya Allah memberikan berkah kepada kita berupa ilmu pengetahuan dan skill yang lengkap dan profesional yang diperhitungkan di Indonesia dan di luar negeri,” ujarnya.
Sementara itu, Ketua BPH Yayasan Perguruan Tinggi Prima Indonesia Prof. Dr. Tommy Leonard, SH., MKn, kepada wartawan Sabtu, 29 Agustus 2026, mengatakan, lulusan UNPRI tidak hanya mengandalkan kompetensi akademik.
Menurutnya, karakter, integritas, kemampuan beradaptasi dan keberanian menghadapi perubahan zaman menjadi modal penting bagi lulusan, terlebih di tengah perkembangan teknologi dan kecerdasan buatan yang semakin cepat.
“Jadilah lulusan yang tidak hanya mencari pekerjaan, tetapi mampu menciptakan peluang; tidak hanya mengejar kesuksesan pribadi, tetapi juga memberi manfaat bagi sesama,” kata Prof Tommy.
Hadir dalam wisuda tersebut, Founder UNPRI Prof. Dr. dr. I Nyoman Ehrich Lister, M.Kes., AIFM., Sp.K.K.L.P., Ketua Yayasan Perguruan Tinggi Prima Indonesia Dr. drg. Florenly, MHSM., MPH., C.Ort., FICCDE, Penasihat Akademik UNPRI Prof. Dr. dr. Farhat, M.Ked (ORL-HNS), Sp.T.H.T.K.L (K), Direktur Rumah Sakit Gigi dan Mulut Prima Dr. drg. Florenly, MHSM., MPH., C.Ort., FICCDE, para Wakil Rektor, Ketua Lembaga/Biro, Dekan dan keluarga wisudawan.
Turut hadir Malaysian Medical Council Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Abu Hassan A. Abdullah, Chairman Philippine Board of Cosmetic Surgery (PBCS) Republic of the Philippines Al Farabi Lee Jaafar, MD, President Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery, President Philippine Federation of Cosmetic Surgeons Republic of the Philippines Exequiel P. Yumang, MD, Sekda Kabupaten Nias Samson P. Zai, S.H., M.H., dan Wakil Bupati Kabupaten Toba Drs. Audy Murphy O Sitorus, S.H., M.Si. ***rel
