Surabaya, May 3, 2025 — “Financial independence is a crucial foundation for the younger generation to thrive in the digital era,” asserted the Vice Governor of East Java, Dr. Emil Elestianto Dardak, B.Bus., M.Sc., Ph.D., in his video-delivered remarks at the Universitas Terbuka (UT) Surabaya Pre-Graduation Seminar last Saturday.
The statement was met with enthusiastic applause from the offline attendees, reinforcing the urgency of financial literacy as a primary provision in facing increasingly complex and consumptive distraction-filled modern challenges.
Through a seminar themed “Realize Your Dreams of Becoming Financially Independent,” UT Surabaya invited students and the wider community to dissect an increasingly relevant issue in the digital age: how to manage finances consciously and intelligently amidst the rapid flow of a consumptive lifestyle and the illusion of affluence shaped by social media.
Also present in person was Prof. Dr. Dra.ec. Liliana Inggrit Wijaya, M.M., CFP, a practitioner and finance lecturer from FBE UBAYA. With a straightforward and insightful delivery style, Liliana encouraged participants to recognize the trap of “look rich but not being rich.” She explained that 60% of Indonesian youth are still trapped in consumption for image and emphasized the importance of building financial independence from an early age.
“Saving is not from what’s left over, but from what is set aside first. It’s not about the size of the income, but how wisely we manage it,” she emphasized.
Representing UT was Dr. Hana Norhamida, S.E., M.Si., Ak., CA, who emphasized the importance of financial literacy, especially for distance learning (PJJ) students. The seminar, moderated by Sucipto, S.Pd., M.Sc., was directly opened by the Director of UT Surabaya, Dr. Suparti, M.Pd., who affirmed that this seminar is a concrete effort to equip UT graduates to face modern challenges.
“We want them to be able to distinguish between wants and needs, so they don’t get caught up in a consumptive lifestyle. That’s the real provision before they enter the world of work and society,” said Dr. Suparti.
This seminar was also part of the UT Surabaya Graduation Series for Period I of 2025. A total of 1,580 students out of 3,000 graduates are scheduled to participate in the graduation ceremony. In addition to the seminar, there was also a talk show session and the awarding of prizes to outstanding students, including the runner-up for Putra Putri Ekowisata (Ecotourism Ambassador).
After graduation, UT graduates automatically become part of the UT Alumni Association (IKA UT), which will continue to foster and develop their competencies in the future.
This seminar also serves as a reflection: that financial independence is the right and responsibility of every young person, and that dreams not only have to be pursued but also managed with the right strategy — starting now.
