The spotlight is on Adrian Harish Nibusa, former electrical engineering student, Universitas Indonesia.

Universitas Indonesia, established in 1849 in Depok, West Java, is a leading state-owned research university with 13 departments specializing in science, social humanities, and medicine, offering 291 postgraduate and vocational study programs to 47,000 Indonesian and international students.

The university participates in the annual Digital Talent Scholarship (DTS) program run by the Ministry of Communications and Informatics (MCI), part of the national priority strategy to reduce the digital skills gap, provide talent to industry, and help create new competitive start-ups. Over 30 Indonesian universities take part.

Fresh Graduate Academy (FGA), one of six branches of the DTS training program, covers areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, network engineering, and, in collaboration with Oracle Academy, Java Programming and Database Design and Programming with SQL.

Adrian Harish Nibusa, during his time at university as an electrical engineering student with no computer science background, participated in the Fresh Graduate Academy training in 2020. He studied the Oracle Academy Database Design and Programming with SQL curriculum, and became one of 380 students selected from across the country to demonstrate their knowledge and skills by undertaking Oracle professional certification exams. He continued studying and before graduating, passed the demanding exam for Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate certification.

Oracle Academy: We are intrigued to know how you came to sit the exam for Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate certification?

Adrian Harish Nibusa: Basically, as I came towards the end of my major, I became more and more aware that jobs in IT were something worth aiming for: in data science, data analysis, or database administration. But in electrical engineering, there was an introductory course to computer science but no hands-on programs. So, I had only basic technical skills. But when the department asked for participants in the FGA-DTS program, I registered for the database programming course. I took it in order to be able to then sit the Oracle Database SQL exam that would certify me professionally if I was successful.

Oracle Academy: Who delivered the Fresh Graduate Academy courses?

Adrian Harish Nibusa: Teachers from the Computer Science department who were already educated in Oracle Academy database and Java curricula. Universitas Indonesia has been an Oracle Academy Institutional member for many years.

Oracle Academy: And how was it for someone with no database knowledge at all?

Adrian Harish Nibusa: It was hard work, but it was a pleasure. And I had full support from the teachers, my mentors and my friends. Above all, I had the goal of augmenting my skills with database knowledge to get a job in IT. My final semester was spent completely immersed in understanding the material and spending long hours preparing myself for the certification exam.

Oracle Academy: And you made it. Was it tough?

Adrian Harish Nibusa: Well, I realized it would be very difficult when my lecturer told me that in the previous year no students had passed the exam. I was shocked. It was a big deal and from that moment I knew I had to be serious about it and go all out. I studied long and hard, I mastered the materials, and I passed with top marks. I was elated. No one else in my year passed it either. Due to the challenge of passing the Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) exam, the MCI in 2021 lowered the stakes and now allow students on FGA-DTS to certify as Oracle Foundations Associate, which is one level before OCA.

Oracle Academy: How would you rate the course materials?

Adrian Harish Nibusa: For me, with only a basic IT background, I found the material to be well structured and easy to understand.The main course was Database Design and Programming with SQL, but in addition, I learned Oracle Application Express (Oracle APEX), and Oracle SQL Data Modeler through the Oracle Cloud. Completing these courses earned me the Oracle Academy completion certificate.

With that certificate, I then studied even more intensely in order to sit the Oracle Certification exam 1Z0- 071, Oracle Database SQL. That’s how I achieved my Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate certification and improved my prospects on the job market.

Oracle Academy: Congratulations! And during your studies, did you access the Oracle Academy Member Hub?

Adrian Harish Nibusa: Yes, I did. The Member Hub learning platform gave me all sorts of tools for playing with the database. The Hub gives you programming tools for testing the code. You can play with the Oracle database and cloud-based programming tools, to help see what databases and applications are really like.

Oracle Academy: Have the skills you learned from Oracle Academy helped you in your current job?

Adrian Harish Nibusa: Absolutely. Let me say that the Oracle Academy courses not only gave me technical knowledge but also an understanding of business processes―the business role of the database. I learned which parts of a company use databases and why, and have been able to apply my programming knowledge to different business roles. At present, for example, I’m employed by an auditing firm providing assurance services to businesses and organizations. I work with big data using my SQL training. So, Oracle Academy has given me both technical and business skills.

In the longer term, I’m deciding between a database administrator offer from a company in Japan and another from one here in Indonesia. The Oracle certification was helpful for the current job and for those I have mentioned.

Oracle Academy: Lastly, what are your interests outside of work?

Adrian Harish Nibusa: On weekdays I go to the gym, hang out with my co-workers or read and watch movies. Weekends I see my friends, go hiking in the mountains or sight-seeing, and spend time with my family. Also, I take interest in everything connected to the metaverse, blockchain, and other breakthrough technologies.

May I add that I would like to thank Oracle Academy for the opportunity to gain professional certification from a world-class technology company. I never would have imagined achieving that when I first enrolled in electrical engineering. I hope this story inspires others.

Thank you, Adrian Harish Nibusa, for sharing your passion for Oracle Academy.