“Taiwan has always been my second home” says Dr. Aning Ayucitra from Indonesia, who was awarded the Ministry of Education’s 2024 “Global Outstanding Alumni Award”. During her Ph.D. studies at Taiwan Tech, she achieved numerous academic milestones. Now serving as Vice President of Widya Mandala Catholic University, she actively promotes the development of higher education in Indonesia and plays a key role in strengthening Taiwan-Indonesia academic collaboration.

Aning Ayucitra, an alumnus of Taiwan Tech and Vice President of Widya Mandala Catholic University, has been awarded the Ministry of Education’s 2024 “Global Outstanding Alumni Award”.

Aning’s connection with Taiwan Tech began in 2008, when she participated in research on rice bran oil under the supervision of Professor Yi-Hsu Ju in the Department of Chemical Engineering as a graduate student. She visited Taiwan multiple times for academic collaboration and exchange. She recalls being deeply impressed by Taiwan’s diverse, inclusive culture, friendly and generous society, and good public safety. These positive experiences led her to choose Taiwan Tech as the best option for pursuing her Ph.D. in 2017.

Aning Ayucitra (left) with her advisor, Professor Yi-Hsu Ju (right).

Despite the heavy coursework and challenging qualification exams of her Ph.D. program, Aning emphasized the mantra “Choose what you love, love what you choose.” Through relentless effort and discipline, she successfully earned her degree in 2020. In addition to the Zhong Ding Scholarship, Aning received several prestigious awards for her outstanding academic performance and research, including the Taiwan Tech Professor Lee Jia-Ping Filial Piety Scholarship and the Zhongji Society Technology Scholarship. These accolades attest to her strong academic abilities and achievements. She is especially grateful to her advisor, Professor Yi-Hsu Ju, for selflessly sharing his expertise and experience, which not only helped her thrive in her field but also enriched her life in Taiwan.

Aning Ayucitra (center) received the Zhongji Society Technology Scholarship in 2018 for her outstanding academic performance.

At Taiwan Tech, Aning specialized in the application of graphene oxide and biopolymer materials in drug delivery systems. She is now actively applying her knowledge to research in Indonesia. As Vice President of Widya Mandala Catholic University, Aning is dedicated to improving the quality of education and preparing students for future global competition. Under her leadership, the university successfully implemented online learning during the pandemic. Thanks to her strategic planning and quick adaptability, the university’s ranking in the Webometrics global university network rose from 96th to 35th in Indonesia.

Aning Ayucitra worked with lab partners from around the world, seizing every opportunity to engage in cross-cultural exchanges with her peers.

She believes that her time at Taiwan Tech significantly enhanced her time management skills and laid a strong foundation for a disciplined and persistent work ethic. Aning emphasizes that the knowledge and skills she gained at the university not only equipped her with the expertise needed for her profession but also taught her that leadership is not about “commanding” but “serving”. This insight has shaped her pragmatic and human-centered approach to leadership as Vice President. Looking ahead, Aning hopes to bring Taiwan Tech’s academic culture and research methodology back to Indonesia, including modernizing libraries, promoting sustainable policies, and advancing international campus management.

During her studies in Taiwan, Aning was particularly impressed by the friendly and health-conscious lifestyle of the Taiwanese people. She appreciated how Taiwan Tech offered comprehensive support to international students, from scholarship applications and accommodation to language courses that helped bridge professional and daily life. This support made her feel warmly welcomed in a foreign land. She hopes to share Taiwan’s time management practices and healthy lifestyle with the younger generation in Indonesia, helping more students benefit from these experiences.

Professor Yi-Hsu Ju (first row, far left) and Professor Jhy-Chern Liu (first row, second from left) from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Taiwan Tech spent their free time guiding Aning Ayucitra (front row, second from right) and other international students through Taiwan’s night markets, providing them with a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture.

Looking ahead, Aning hopes to strengthen educational cooperation between Taiwan and Indonesia, particularly in student and faculty exchanges. She believes that government support from both sides will help deepen this collaboration, extending beyond academic institutions to include industries. Aning also encourages Indonesian students to bravely pursue their dreams, quoting Abraham Lincoln’s famous words: “The best way to predict the future is to create it” inspiring young people to move forward with courage.

On November 7, Aning Ayucitra was invited to share her study experience in Taiwan at Taiwan Tech.