JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 16 — Becoming the first in her family to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the only one to study abroad, Dr. Wimbi Apriwanda Nursiwan, 29, turned her graduation day at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) into a family celebration unlike any other.

Coming all the way from Duri, a small town in the Mandau District, Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia, Dr. Wimbi was joined by her extended family, including relatives from Desa Pulau Aro, a small village in Kuantan Singingi, Riau Province. For many of them, it was their first trip to Malaysia, making the occasion even more memorable.

“True happiness for me is to see my family proud of my achievements,” she said warmly, expressing how her success was not hers alone but shared with her loved ones. “This is the first time I have been able to bring them to UTM. During my Master’s graduation, I celebrated alone because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

She pursued her PhD in Education (Chemistry) at the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology (FEST), beginning her journey in 2021 under the Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia.

Despite her rigorous academic commitments, she remained actively involved in various organizations, including serving as Vice President of the Indonesian Student Association of Malaysia (PPIM) 2022 and contributing as a committee member of the Postgraduate Student Society (PGSS), Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) 2023/2024. She also played a key role in organizing several international conferences.

When asked about what inspired her to continue her studies, Dr. Wimbi said it was her deep passion for teaching and research. “Education has always been my calling. I wanted to understand more deeply how people learn and how teaching can transform lives,” she explained.

Her supervisor and family were equally supportive. “My supervisor believed in my potential from the start. My family was my biggest motivation. Even when I doubted myself, they reminded me why I started,” she said with emotion.

Her sense of service extended beyond academia. She volunteered as part of the Overseas Indonesian Election Committee under the Indonesian Consulate in Johor Bahru (PPLN Johor Bahru) for the 2024 election, balancing civic duty with her scholarly pursuits.

Throughout her doctoral journey, Dr. Wimbi presented her research at nine international platforms, including conferences and colloquiums held in Tokyo (Japan), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Malang and Bali (Indonesia), Pekanbaru (Indonesia), and Johor Bahru (Malaysia).

Her academic accomplishments were equally remarkable. She has published research papers in three Scopus-indexed journals, one Web of Science (WoS), one MyCite-indexed, one ERA-indexed, and two international conference proceedings. Her innovative research also earned her numerous accolades, including the Global Research Poster Winner for the Secondary Level Category from the Royal Society of Chemistry #RSCEdu2025, along with three gold, one silver, and one bronze medals from international research competitions.

Her outstanding accomplishments earned her both the Best Postgraduate Award and the Academic Award at the 69th UTM Convocation.

As the proud daughter of a humble family, she expressed heartfelt thanks to her parents, siblings, supervisors, and friends who supported her through every challenge. “Without their prayers, I wouldn’t be here today. My deepest gratitude goes to UTM for shaping me into the person I am,” she said.

Looking ahead, Dr. Wimbi hopes to continue her academic career and contribute to educational research in Indonesia. “My dream is to mentor future scholars, especially young women, to believe that they too can achieve greatness through education.”

To her juniors, Dr. Wimbi offered heartfelt advice, “Do not be afraid of challenges. Make the most of every opportunity, stay humble, and keep your spirit strong. Success is not about being the best, but about being consistent in giving your best.”