Gaining Experience: Polstat STIS Students Interning at BPS Tegal Regency

On Monday, July 15, 2024, the Tegal Regency Central Statistics Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik, BPS) welcomed internship students from the Politeknik Statistika STIS. The internship cohort at BPS Tegal Regency consists of four students from various programs: DIV in Statistical Computing, DIV in Statistics, and D III in Statistics. This internship initiative supports the Merdeka Belajar program by the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbudristek), aiming to introduce students to the BPS work environment. Notably, graduates from Politeknik Statistika STIS are eligible to become prospective civil servants within the BPS organization. Internships also serve as a platform for students to apply the knowledge they have acquired during their academic studies. Undoubtedly, the realities and dynamics of the workplace differ significantly from the pages of textbooks. Thus, preparing students to be adaptable when carrying out their future tasks is fundamental.

On the same day, Polstat STIS conducted a virtual internship orientation via Zoom and YouTube. Representatives from BPS at the provincial and district/city levels across Indonesia participated, along with D-IV and D-III students from Polstat STIS who were about to embark on their internships. During this orientation, the background of the internship program was explained, emphasizing its benefits for students, the Polstat STIS campus, and the host institution (BPS). Additionally, an introduction to the newly developed internship information system was provided, ensuring a systematic internship process.

The internship program spans approximately two months, starting from Monday, July 15, 2024. In this relatively short period, students are expected to gain as much experience as possible related to the business processes at BPS Tegal Regency. This includes technical activities related to statistics and direct fieldwork. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to explore and enhance their communication, collaboration, and adaptability skills in various situations.

Throughout these two months, regular monitoring and evaluation of student performance will take place. The evaluation results will provide valuable input for Polstat STIS to enhance the quality of education and curriculum. Additionally, BPS will benefit from this evaluation by assessing the effectiveness of the internship program and identifying areas for improvement. Ultimately, the goal is for this internship program to continue evolving and providing optimal benefits for all stakeholders involved. (MagangSTIS)