ITB Students Win Energy Debate Competition at Pertamina Goes to Campus 2025

September 24, 2025 - ( update : 20-11-2025 )

By Muhammad Hanif Darmawan - Mahasiswa Teknik Pertambangan, 2021

Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.

Awarding session for the ITB Team as the 1st Place Winner in the Energy Debate Championship, presented by Simon Aloysius Mantiri, President Director of PT Pertamina (Persero), at the Pertamina Goes To Campus (PGTC) 2025 program at Grha Pertamina, Jakarta (17/09/2025) (Doc. Committee)

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id - Two students from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Mikaila Habsari Suwanda, an ITB Regional and City Planning student, and Altruir Dhanesh Ravindra, an ITB Actuarial Science student, have won 1st Place in the Energy Debate Competition, part of the Pertamina Goes to Campus (PGTC) 2025 program. This victory was achieved after a series of competitive preliminary and elimination rounds, contested by university students from all over Indonesia.

The preliminary rounds of the competition were held online on August 27-28, 2025, while the elimination rounds through to the grand final were held in person at the Luminor Hotel and Grha Pertamina in Jakarta from September 16-18, 2025. "We are very grateful because the Energy Debate Competition from PGTC 2025 is a highly prestigious competition," said Mikaila, one of the team members.

An emotional moment during the announcement of the ITB Team's victory at the Energy Debate Championship competition in the Pertamina Goes To Campus (PGTC) 2025 program at Grha Pertamina, Jakarta (17/09/2025) (Doc. Committee)

The ITB team's victory was a result of thorough and intensive preparation. Despite coming from academic backgrounds not directly related to energy, both worked hard to study various related topics. "We looked for many references related to energy in order to face impromptu motions well," explained Dhanesh.

Besides in-depth research, another key to their success was routine practice and strong team chemistry. "I still remember how during July and August, we continuously participated in competitions to improve our debate skills. I think there were 3 back-to-back competitions; every weekend we were unavailable because we were busy competing," she recalled.

Community support was also a significant factor. The team felt the full support of the coaches and members of the Student English Forum (SEF) ITB, the student activity unit they belong to. "This victory is like a manifestation of the effective support system at SEF ITB, both in terms of debating and the sense of community we felt," added Mikaila.

The ITB Team debating at the Energy Debate Championship competition in the Pertamina Goes To Campus (PGTC) 2025 program at the Luminor Hotel, Jakarta (16/09/2025) (Doc. Committee)

For Mikaila and Dhanesh, this victory is a major milestone in their debating careers, especially given the very specific and competitive theme of energy. Their main motivation was to give their best performance on a stage as big as PGTC, which they considered a rare opportunity. In the future, they hope to continue developing and competing at the international level.

Mikaila and Dhanesh also expressed their gratitude to the ITB Directorate of Student Affairs for its support in handling administrative requirements, and to the faculty advisor of SEF ITB, Dr. Nia Kurniasih, M.Hum., who accompanied them throughout the competition.

"Studying at ITB is a privilege. One way to be grateful for that privilege is by maximizing the campus facilities and support by trying various things," said Mikaila as a message to other ITB students. "The desire to keep trying will surely bring us one step closer to achievement," added Dhanesh.

Reporter: Muhammad Hanif Darmawan (Mining Engineering, 2021)