The spotlight is on Johny Hizkia Siringo Ringo, lecturer, Tanri Abeng University, Indonesia.

Tanri Abeng University (TAU) is a private higher education institution located 15 km southwest of central Jakarta, on the island of Java, Indonesia. TAU emphasizes bilingual instruction and a competency-based approach that prepares graduates to compete not only in Indonesia but also in the international job market. In March 2025, the university celebrated its 14th anniversary, with emphasis on the importance of implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in higher education management.

Johny Hizkia Siringo Ringo, Head of Informatics Engineering, has been a full-time lecturer since 2014. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Technology from Deakin University, Melbourne, and a master’s degree in Software Development from Monash University, Melbourne.

In addition, Johny Ringo is a part-time lecturer at two campuses of UIC College outside of Jakarta: PIK (Pantai Indah Kapuk) and BSD (Bumi Serpong Damai). Tanri Abeng University and UIC College are both Oracle Academy members.

Oracle Academy: What parts of Oracle Academy curriculum do you teach?

Johny Ringo: At TAU, which has a three-day-a-week schedule, I teach classes in Database Design, Distributed Database Systems, and Object-Oriented Programming. These courses are blended with Oracle Academy’s Database Design and Database Programming with SQL, and Java Fundamentals.

I use the same resources at the UIC campuses, where I teach Database Fundamentals, Software Development Life Cycle, Database Design & Development, and Database Management.

I also use Oracle APEX, which allows learners to design, build, and implement cloud-based database solutions or applications. APEX is extremely useful because at TAU we focus on project-based learning, an approach that takes students beyond theoretical study into hands-on development. My personal motto is ‘everyone can design,’ a conviction that grew on me when majoring in multimedia in Australia.

With clear thinking and tools such as Oracle APEX, anyone can design. I have created a number of case studies guided by Oracle Academy database design resources.

Oracle Academy: Kindly share some of those projects…

Johny Ringo: Let me take three projects from last semester. One group designed a library management system, covering book collections, borrowing and return schedules, as well as member transactions. This demonstrated their ability to apply SQL in creating relational models and managing multiple entity relationships.

Another group worked on a hotel booking application, allowing customers to search rooms by type, price, availability, and reservation period. This project highlighted the students’ skills in implementing SQL statements with nested queries, handling transaction management, and ensuring data integrity.

A third case focused on building a transportation system, enabling users to book tickets, select routes, manage pick-up and drop-off points, and track schedules efficiently. From this project, students applied normalization techniques, developed queries to optimize route selection, and explored the integration of database design with application interfaces.

Oracle Academy: In what way does collaboration come in to play?

Johny Ringo: Collaborative projects are a central part of my teaching strategy, as students work in teams to solve problems, thereby strengthening not only their technical abilities but also their communication and teamwork skills.

Students work in groups of three or four to build a system. Having created and demonstrated their prototypes, they then must present the design process – what is behind the entity relationship diagram in terms of functional or non-functional requirements; what tables and forms were used; how they were built; what kind of interface was devised and how.

By actually creating database systems, not just learning the theory, learners gain confidence and practical readiness for internships and future careers. It gives them a solid grounding in the collaborative environments they will meet in the database job market.

Oracle Academy: Do you follow the same schema when it comes to final year exams?

Johny Ringo: Yes, we do. And what’s more, it is compulsory for final year students to publish a paper based on their project or thesis. Most of them use our university publication — the Journal of Computer Systems and Artificial Intelligence — which also accepts scientific research papers from outside the academic community. Publishing their results also gives a boost to their resumés. It’s all part of communication.

Oracle Academy: Do you make use of Oracle Academy for assessments?

Johny Ringo: Yes indeed, it’s an essential learning management platform. Our assessment methods — ranging from quizzes and lab exercises to larger project evaluations — are aligned with the Oracle Academy curriculum, ensuring that learning outcomes are systematically measured. We delivered final exams through the Oracle Academy Member Hub.

Oracle Academy: What are your overall takeaways on the value of Oracle Academy?

Johny Ringo: Oracle Academy has brought significant and measurable benefits. For me as a faculty member, the structured curriculum and updated teaching materials provide clarity, consistency, and relevance, allowing me to deliver courses that reflect global best practices. The availability of cloud and development platforms directly from Oracle Academy also ensures that my teaching stays connected to the tools and technologies used by industry professionals.

For students, the impact is profound. They gain concrete technical skills in designing entity relationship diagrams, using SQL, Oracle APEX, Java Fundamentals, and database application development. Working with Oracle APEX provides them with industry-grade experience, giving them confidence and practical readiness for internships and future careers. Beyond technical expertise, students often feel more motivated and engaged because they are working on projects and tools that mirror real-world professional practices. Many recognize that this learning experience significantly improves their career prospects in fields such as database administration, software engineering, and data analysis, providing them with a competitive edge in today’s technology-driven job market.

Oracle Academy: Powerful words, thank you. And outside of teaching, what are your interests?

Johny Ringo: I would say travel; my wife and I love visiting new places. I play some basketball, but mainly I enjoy driving, being behind the wheel. When I was a student in Australia, which I still visit regularly, an eight-hour drive with friends from Melbourne to Sydney was a great pleasure — the views, the highways. Nowadays I drive around Java, sometimes down to the west coast at Bekasi for a meal in the remodeled fuselage of a decommissioned Boeing 737 400, now a steak restaurant. There is so much to do and see in Indonesia!

Thank you, Johny Hizkia Siringo Ringo, for your passion for Oracle Academy and for preparing your students to make a positive impact.