Bandung, Indonesia—The first wave of PPG students at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia successfully held the Leadership Project Expo. The event was part of the course in Leadership Project with a theme “Diversity in Education,” conducted on Tuesday, 25 June 2024 at the Achmad Sanusi Building, UPI.
The theme, “Diversity in Education,” was personified through event mascots involving three main characters: Puspa, Pandu, and Gumilang, forming the acronym PPG. Puspa is represented by a white tiger, which symbolizes a brave and patient temperament, whereas he is attired in an elementary school uniform. Panda, in a middle school uniform, is depicted by a clever and agile deer. 

There is a meticulous and precise depiction of the Javan eagle in a high school uniform as Gumilang. These are the mascots, symbolizing the obligation of teachers to guide their students toward a prosperous future.

Professor Dr. H. Asep Herry Hernawan, M.Pd, head of the PPG Study Program at the UPI School of Postgraduate Studies, said in his report during the opening ceremony that this expo did not present only the products of the project leaders but also held some competitions and awards. These included a scientific publication competition, video competition featuring teaching practices of PPG students, a competition for the exhibition of leadership projects, and appreciation of exemplary practices by guiding teachers and field supervisors. Students from across 19 study programs also performed during the event.

The event, led by Dr. Sahroni, S.Sn., M.Pd., a PPG lecturer at UPI, allowed Pre-Service PPG students to express their commitment, creativity, and leadership skills. “Hopefully, it will give us all encouragement and serve as a stepping stone to create leaders in the future who are able to make a difference in education, society, and the state,” said Prof. Dr. H. Asep Herry Hernawan, M.Pd.

The 1st batch of the 2023 Pre-Service PPG students’ Leadership Project Expo was officially opened by striking a gong, conducted by Prof. Dr. Juntika Nurihsan, M.Pd., Director of UPI SPs. In his speech, he has stated that PPG students are the leaders who in the future play roles within educational settings, therefore having to quickly, precisely, and effectively resolve problems. In this sense, PPG students are educators in their own right, dynamic and flexible leaders who set examples through what they do and say to perhaps truly become “respected and emulated” teachers.

Present on the opening ceremony were the Deans of Faculties, Coordinators of Study Programs, Permanent Lecturers of PPG, Leadership Project Course Lecturers, Field Practice Supervisors, and Supervising Teachers. In addition, over 1,300 students from the Pre-Service PPG participated, and during this occasion, certificates for the Global Diversity Awareness and National Defense Training, earlier conducted on 11th-12th May 2024 and 18th-19th May 2024, at the National Defense Education Depot Rindam III/Siliwangi, were distributed.