en.malanginspirasi.com – Sixty-seven students from Brawijaya University (UB) pass the selection as official Google Student Ambassadors (GSA) for 2026.
It is a remarkable achievement as those ambassadors outperformed approximately 81,000 applicants from universities across Indonesia.
One of those Google Student Ambassadors, Rafif Izdihar Dinta from the Chemistry Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), shared his experience going through the rigorous selection process.
“The selection process involved several stages, starting with administrative documentation, followed by a self-recorded interview that tested communication skills and innovative ideas for utilizing Google features, and then the Gemini Challenge,” explained Rafif.
This was also firsthand experienced of Muhammad Alif Albana Abzar, a Google Student Ambassador from Communication Studies, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP).
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As a student majoring in Social Humanities, Alif’s interest in this program is not merely from expanding his connections and improving his skills, but also from his concern about how society interacts with the rapid flow of information.
“The current reality shows that people often misuse technology. I have a strong couragement to adopt a more reflective approach, namely how to find meaning behind this rapid flow of information,” said Alif.
He added that people should not consider the world as a platform for technological exploitation.
Yet, rather as a meaningful space where each individual has their own unique story.
He also reminded students to maintain the primary subjects of learning.
“If we feel like we’re losing our identity when using technology, that means we’ve crossed the line,” he said.
Despite their different backgrounds, Alif and Rafif agree that artificial intelligence (AI) is a tool, not a substitute for thinking.
Rafif gave an example of how the Gemini Deep Research feature helped him conduct literature reviews and identify research gaps before conducting practical work in the Chemistry lab.
“The Gemini Deep Research feature was very helpful in understanding the theory before the practical work,” Rafif said.
He added that UB’s Google Student Ambassadors also plan to hold various educational and application-based programs in the future so that students are not just passive users.
Meanwhile, Google Education Specialist, Arija Rose Wanodya explained that this program is an initiative of Google to build a strong digital ecosystem on campus.
“The main goal is to improve technology skills and digital innovation among students and support their long-term capacity development,” Rose explained.
Despite the rigorous requirements, Rose emphasized that Google prioritizes an enthusiasm to learn over initial technical expertise.
“We don’t look at the background of each participant, whether someone has to be tech-savvy first. The main thing is curiosity and a desire to try new things,” Rose explained.
According to Rose, this program is inclusive of all majors because a good understanding of technology is now crucial for all fields, including the Social Humanities, not just Science and Technology.
Rose hopes that students will be able to use technology wisely through this activity.
By doing so, they can hone their leadership skills and become agents of change who have a positive impact on their surroundings.
“Don’t be satisfied by being spectators. Yet, let’s all take action and be part of the people who create changes,” Rose concluded.
