Growing Together with UMN NEXT 2026: Starting the Journey, Spreading Potential, and Blossoming into Resilient Students

New UMN students attending the UMN NEXT 2026. (Doc. UMN)

Tangerang, August 19, 2026 – Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) officially welcomed thousands of new students for the 2026/2027 academic year through the UMN NEXT 2026 series. Carrying the grand theme “Dare to Begin, We Rise Within,” the entire series of events was philosophically packaged through three main stages of growth: Planting Day on Monday, August 17, 2026; Sunlight Day on Tuesday, August 18, 2026; and concluded with Cracking Day on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Planting Day: Planting the Roots of Independence and the Spirit of Nationalism

The series began on Monday, August 17, 2026, which coincided with Indonesia’s Independence Day. Planting Day served as the fundamental pillar for instilling the values of discipline, integrity, and a spirit of nationalism in new students. Since morning, the atmosphere on the UMN campus was warmed by the arrival of participants who gathered orderly at the assembly point. The solemn atmosphere peaked when all participants and committee members held the Flag Ceremony commemorating Indonesia’s Independence, which also served as the Opening of UMN NEXT 2026.

Warmly welcoming the new students, the Rector of Universitas Multimedia Nusantara, Dr. Andrey Andoko, delivered a message affirming the importance of the adaptation process and self-development in higher education. “I feel proud to welcome new students to the UMN Campus. Later, students will get to know the UMN Campus more closely and receive various information through UMN NEXT (New Experience for Tomorrow) 2026. Of course, students should also be grateful to be a small part of the graduates who can continue their studies to higher education,” Andrey welcomed.

Beyond getting to know the UMN Campus, Andrey said UMN NEXT 2026 serves as a platform for students to collaborate, network, and cultivate new abilities amid uncertain conditions, including advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. “I hope that the UMN NEXT 2026 activity will be the beginning for new students to understand the basics of human skills, which include critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the 5C values of UMN (Caring, Credible, Competent, Competitive, and Customer Delight),” Andrey concluded.

After the ceremony on the field, new students were directed to classrooms to begin more personal introduction sessions. Accompanied by PICs (Artha), participants took part in group introductions, bridging sessions to break down group names, and designed group identities as a symbol of the unity of diverse ideas and backgrounds that would become one entity.

Sunlight Day: Opening Horizons, Getting to Know the Environment, and Sharpening Self-Composition

On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, Sunlight Day was present like sunlight that provides nutrition and insight for young seeds beginning to grow. In class sessions, new students gained an in-depth understanding of Dress Code Ethics, an introduction to the Student Engagement Website portal, feed assignments, and the delivery of Appreciation Letters. Participants were also invited to explore campus life by screening the “Get to Know the Campus” video and being introduced to UMN institutions to encourage active student participation in both academic and non-academic fields.

One of the core dynamics on Sunlight Day was the completion of Krama Katha (Post Test & Debriefing PIC). This session was designed to test participants’ critical understanding, thoroughness, and adaptability to a higher-education mindset. Before ending the day, participants moved (flowed) to their respective faculty points to get to know the environment and academic scope they would be undertaking more closely.

Cracking Day: Critical Talks, Student Pledge, and Meaningful Inauguration

The peak of the journey arrived on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, through Cracking Day. This day symbolized the blossoming of new students’ potential, strengthened by deep roots and broad insight. The morning opened with Sticker Dynamics (Best Group) on the field, before participants entered the interactive Discussion Room series in the classrooms. Featuring three important educational pillars, new students discussed directly with representatives from Student Support, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), and the UMN Student Ethics Council (DEM). This discussion series aimed to shape students who are mentally resilient, healthy without drug abuse, and sensitive to the pillars of safety and comfort in the campus environment.

The warmth among group members grew stronger during the Bonding and ISHOMA session, which was followed by the compilation of summaries from the Discussion Room Dynamics. Towards the evening, all participants once again filled the main field to attend the peak event of the UMN NEXT 2026 Inauguration. The reading of Appreciation Letters and the announcement of the best group served as a form of appreciation for the participants’ perseverance throughout the orientation. A rumbling and emotional atmosphere enveloped the field during the reading of the Student Pledge and the binding of collective commitment through the symbolic hanging of Student Identity Cards (KTM), interspersed with Board Parades, Flashmobs, and celebrations with all committee divisions.

Impressions from New Students & Hopes for the Future

The transition moment to becoming a university student was also deeply felt by the participants. In a brief interview, Chelsea Vanessa, a new student in the Strategic Communication study program, shared her experience during the three-day UMN NEXT 2026 series. “I am happy to be able to join UMN NEXT 2026. There were so many seminars and so much information for us to learn as new students. The speakers also presented educational information. Through UMN NEXT 2026, I came to know more and feel ready to become a UMN student,” Chelsea expressed. For Chelsea, UMN NEXT 2026 was not only an opportunity to get to know the UMN campus more closely. The UMN NEXT 2026 activity also became a moment to build relationships, collaborate, and make new friends.

Through UMN NEXT 2026, Universitas Multimedia Nusantara hopes every new student can grow into an adaptive, integrity-driven individual ready to make real contributions to their alma mater and society. With the end of Cracking Day, all participants were officially inaugurated as part of the Extended Family of Universitas Multimedia Nusantara. Dare to Begin, We Rise Within!

CONTACT INFORMATION / COMMITTEE: For more information, please access/contact UMN NEXT 2026 official accounts.

• LINE OA : @yqq6359s

• Instagram : @ombumn

• Website : omb.umn.ac.id

• Email : [email protected]

By Patricia Valencia

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan program studi Informatika| Sistem Informasi | Teknik Komputer | Teknik Elektro | Teknik Fisika | Akuntansi | Manajemen| Komunikasi Strategis | Jurnalistik | Desain Komunikasi Visual | Film dan Animasi | Arsitektur | D3 Perhotelan , di Universitas Multimedia Nusantara.