InfoSAWIT, BEKASI – A joyous atmosphere filled the hall of the Citra Widya Edukasi Palm Oil Polytechnic (Poltek Kelapa Sawit CWE) during the 3rd Applied Bachelor and 17th Diploma III Graduation Ceremony for the 2024/2025 Academic Year. A total of 166 graduates were officially inaugurated, marking a new chapter in their journey toward the professional world.
St. Nugroho Kristono, Director of Poltek Kelapa Sawit CWE, expressed his pride and delivered a profound message in his address. "Graduation is a sign of successfully passing one phase of life, and at the same time, the gateway to a new, more challenging phase. As autonomous individuals, the graduates are expected to apply their knowledge and experience to build a better palm oil industry," he said at the ceremony attended by InfoSAWIT in Bekasi on Saturday (9/27/2025).
Of the total graduates, 42 are from the D3 Palm Oil Cultivation Study Program, 48 from D3 Plantation Product Processing, 41 from D3 Logistics Management, and 25 from D4 Plantation Crop Production Technology. Notably, 58 of them achieved the Cum Laude predicate.
Nugroho emphasized that many of the graduates are the children of independent smallholders. He hopes the knowledge they gained will not only be beneficial in large companies but can also be applied to develop their family farms. "Smallholder palm oil replanting, the improvement of infrastructure and facilities, and ISPO certification still require extension workers. That is where Poltek CWE alumni can contribute," he added.
Poltek Kelapa Sawit CWE carries the motto Tanggap (Responsive), Tanggon (Tough), and Trengginas (Agile) as the hallmark of its graduates. Tanggap means being responsive and sensitive to the environment, Tanggon symbolizes a resilient mentality and high dedication, while Trengginas reflects agility and precision in action. "These three characteristics form the integrity and leadership of a palm oil professional needed by the industry," Kristono stated.
Absorbed by the Workforce Interestingly, before the graduation ceremony, 47 graduates (28%) had already been accepted to work in several companies, including Hartono Plantation Indonesia Agro Group, Ciliandry Anky Abadi Group, Sungai Budi Group, Musim Mas, Triputra Agro Persada, and PT Anugerah Energi Tama.
Poltek CWE also gave appreciation to the LSP Plantation and Horticulture Indonesia and LSP Engineering and Industrial Management for their support in competency certification, as well as various scholarship providers, including BPDP, the Ministry of Agriculture's Directorate General of Plantations, and CSR funds from palm oil companies.
In the past year, Poltek CWE recorded several key achievements. The D3 Cultivation and D4 Plantation Crop Production Technology Study Programs are preparing for ISO 21001:2018 certification. Faculty research has increased, as has student innovation, particularly IoT-based applications. Three student teams even passed the initial stage of the Palm Oil Hackathon organized by GAPKI and BPDP.
For strengthening soft skills, pencak silat (Indonesian martial arts) has now become a mandatory curriculum for new students. The campus also added a teaching staff member with a doctoral degree, Sylvia Madusari, Ph.D. Following the growth in student numbers, the construction of a new dormitory with a capacity of 300 people is currently underway.
Nugroho concluded his speech full of hope. "We are confident that with the provision of knowledge, skills, and character values, the graduates will be able to contribute to the advancement of Indonesian palm oil—increasing productivity, presenting innovation, and maintaining sustainability," Nugroho concluded. (T2)
