Graduation requirements for undergraduate students often require a final project commonly called a thesis. However, there is currently a method of graduating without a thesis, aka done by conversion.

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) is a university that also applies the method of graduating without a thesis, although it is yet to be available for all majors. Faculty of Psychology is one of the faculties in UNAIR that allows students to graduate without writing a thesis. But with other requirements that must be met, for example by converting the Student Creativity Program (PKM).

Graduating College with PKM Conversion

Nidya Almira Xavier Herda Putri. A student of the Faculty of Psychology class of 2018 graduated from college with the conversion of PKM Karsa Cipta. According to her, converting a thesis with PKM is challenging. According to her, PKM research is as difficult as thesis research.

"I feel that the conversion of thesis with PKM is one of the privileges I have to experience 'upgraded thesis'. It means that I feel that what I do during PKM is more or less the same as what I should do when working on a thesis," she told UNAIR NEWS on Wednesday, September 26, 2023.

She continued that PKM preparation is the same as a thesis, from making a proposal containing the background to the method, guidance with lecturers, to the trial and preparation of the final report.

"The difference is, in this PKM I even get 'exclusive guidance' with a team of coaches from UNAIR in the form of monthly monitoring and evaluation, financial assistance from the government, and can experience firsthand the feeling of hearing in front of reviewers from outside the region," she explained.

Focus on Raising Mental Health Awareness

Nidya created an artificial intelligence-based self-care application in an effort to reduce the risk of depression for adolescents, which she named SEJATI. The prototype application with complete features has been tested by several people with predetermined and customized criteria.

"This application consists of features such as self-care activity recommendations, mental health articles, mood tracker, and ENO Chatbot, the main feature of artificial intelligence that can listen to stories from users," explained Nidya.

Nidya said her reason for conducting research to reduce the risk of depression is because depression is the mental disorder with the highest prevalence in Indonesia, especially for the adolescent group. She hopes that her app can continue to be developed.

"ENO is the main feature because the hope is that this chatbot can be a story friend for its users. So, they can feel listened to anytime and anywhere. In the long run, I also hope this app can reduce the stigma of mental health in Indonesia," she said.

Strengthening the Climate of Academic Freedom

Nidya admitted that initially, she did not think of converting her thesis. However, since joining the Garuda Sakti UNAIR organization, she has learned a lot about PKM and tried to jump right in.

In closing, Nidya expressed her hope that a thesis conversion program like this could be a milestone for the climate of academic freedom on campus.

"Hopefully, students can focus on more practical experiences and give them space to develop themselves in any form. Of course, without reducing the essence and benefits they will get," she said. (*)

Writer : Dewi Yugi Arti

Editor : Binti Q. Masruroh

Source : unair.ac.id/mahasiswi-psikologi-unair-rancang-aplikasi-self-care-sebagai-pengganti-skripsi