"Taiwan has always been my second home." Dr. Aning Ayucitra, an alumnus from Indonesia, was awarded the Ministry of Education's 2024 "Outstanding Alumni Award for Global Students in Taiwan" for her exceptional professional achievements and numerous accolades. During her doctoral studies at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), she earned multiple academic achievements. Currently serving as the Vice President at Widya Mandala Catholic University in Indonesia, she is actively advancing higher education development in Indonesia and has become a strong bridge for Taiwan-Indonesia higher education collaboration.

NTUST alumni and Vice President of Widya Mandala Catholic University, Aning Ayucitra from Indonesia,
has been awarded the Ministry of Education's 2024 "Outstanding Alumni Award for Global Students in Taiwan."

Aning Ayucitra’s connection with NTUST began in 2008, when she participated in Professor Zhu Yixu's rice bran oil research at the Department of Chemical Engineering as a graduate student. She also visited Taiwan multiple times for academic collaboration and exchanges. She emphasizes that Taiwan's diverse and inclusive culture, friendly and generous society, and safe environment left a lasting impression on her during her initial visits. Therefore, when it was time for her to pursue a doctoral degree in 2017, NTUST became her top choice.

Dr. Aning Ayucitra (left) poses for a photo with her advisor, Professor Zhu Yixu (right).

Despite the heavy course load and qualification exams for her doctoral program, Aning Ayucitra emphasizes, "Choose what you love, and love what you choose." Through her relentless effort and self-discipline, she successfully earned her degree in 2020. In addition to the Zhongding Scholarship, Aning also received the Professor Li Jiaping Filial Piety Scholarship and the Chung-Tech Society Science and Technology Scholarship at NTUST, recognizing her outstanding academic performance and research contributions. These experiences attest to her strong academic abilities and achievements. She also expresses special gratitude to her advisor, Professor Zhu Yixu, for selflessly imparting knowledge and professional experience, which helped her grow and shine in her field, making her life in Taiwan even more fulfilling and beautiful.

Aning Ayucitra (center) received the Chung-Tech Society Science and Technology Scholarship in 2018 for her outstanding academic performance.

Aning Ayucitra specialized in researching graphene oxide and biopolymer materials for drug delivery systems at NTUST, and she is now actively applying her knowledge in scientific work in Indonesia. As the Vice President of Widya Mandala Catholic University, she is committed to enhancing the quality of education and helping students prepare for future global competition. Under her leadership, the university offered online learning courses during the pandemic. Her well-planned approach and swift adaptability contributed to the university's significant rise in the Webometrics world university rankings, moving from 96th to 35th in Indonesia.

Aning Ayucitra's laboratory partners came from all around the world, and she seized the opportunity to engage in exchanges with her classmates.

Aning Ayucitra believes that her experience at NTUST enhanced her time management skills and laid a strong foundation for a disciplined and persistent work ethic. She emphasizes that what she learned at the school—both academically and in terms of personal development—provided not only the knowledge and skills needed for her profession but also a deeper understanding that leadership is not just about "commanding," but also about "serving." This perspective has influenced her more pragmatic and humanistic approach to management in her current role as Vice President.

Looking ahead, she hopes to bring the values and academic research methods from NTUST back to Indonesia, such as modernizing library concepts, implementing sustainable development policies, and fostering internationalized campus management.

During her time in Taiwan, Aning was deeply impressed by the Taiwanese people's friendly and health-conscious lifestyle. She noted that NTUST provides comprehensive support for international students, from scholarship applications to accommodation, language courses, and professional and everyday life assistance, which made her feel warm and welcomed in a foreign country. She also hopes to share Taiwan's time management practices and healthy lifestyle with the younger generation in Indonesia, benefiting more students in the process.

Professor Zhu Yixu (first row, left), Professor Liu Zhicheng (first row, second from left) from the Department of Chemical Engineering at NTUST, took the opportunity during their free time to lead Aning Ayucitra (front row, second from right) and other international students to explore the night markets, giving them a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture.

On November 7, Aning Ayucitra was invited to NTUST to share her experiences of studying in Taiwan.
Here are the links to the news articles about Aning Ayucitra and her achievements:

1. Central News Agency: Link
2. Economic Daily: Link
3. United Daily News: Link
4. Commercial Times: Link
5. Liberty Times: Link
6. China Times: Link
7. Commercial Times: Link
8. Educational Radio Station: Link
9. Yahoo News: Link
10. Strategic Style Knowledge News: Link
11. Bo News: Link
12. ENN Taiwan Telegraph: Link
13. Central News Agency Platform: Link
14. PCHome News: Link
15. MSN News: Link