Nila Armelia Windasari, Inspiring ITB Lecturer: Ph.D. at 27 and the Blessings of Teaching
By M. Naufal Hafizh
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – Nila Armelia Windasari, S.A., M.B.A, Ph.D. is one of the lecturers at the School of Business and Management (SBM), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB). She obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree at the age of 27.
While still in high school, she participated in acceleration program and completed her bachelor's degree in seven semesters at Universitas Airlangga. She then continued her studies and earned a master's degree in three semesters at Asia University, Taiwan. Her doctoral studies were pursued at National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Teaching is not a new endeavor for her. Both of her parents, her grandparents, and her in-laws are teachers. This upbringing has made her feel comfortable in her role as a lecturer. However, what she enjoys most about this profession is learning from her students.
"Especially when in SBM and at the postgraduate level, through classroom discussions, I learn something from them, from their varied industry experiences and practices. And when I can help them learn more deeply, it's rewarding for me," she said, on Tuesday (30/4/2024).
Before teaching at SBM ITB since 2018, she served as a lecturer for four years at Open University in Taiwan. Until now, she has supervised hundreds of students. Interestingly, she remembers the thesis of every student she has guided. This is because of her principle not only to ensure students pass but also to create solutions for the problems discussed in their topics.
“In MBA theses, it's about real problem-solving, not just hypothetical. These are real issues from the companies they bring. It's important for them not just to finish but to actually solve the problem," she explained.
Therefore, it is not uncommon for revisions to be done multiple times. She does not perceive the fact as a negative thing. “It shows the complexity of the problems brought by the students. When they successfully solve it, it's an achievement for them, not just for me. So, it's not just an indication that the final project is completed, but that the real problem can be solved and applied, which is important for me,” she said.
Email Threads
During the guidance process, besides meeting in person, one form of communication she uses is email threads. These threads specifically discuss thesis, dissertation, and dissertation topics. This is because the thesis is a written product and the threads intend to maintain a record of guidance. She is also responsive in addressing these matters.
"Everything is via email and through meetings. But I also make sure that I respond to emails just as quickly as I reply to WhatsApp," said the lecturer who enjoys watching movies and reading books.
Being part of SBM ITB, she admits that meeting the teaching standard is quite challenging. For instance, every assignment must receive feedback. “That's something I've held onto until now, that we shouldn't just assign tasks and leave them. Every assignment must receive feedback. This includes during exams, identifying what's difficult, and so on. Additionally, we must be available. It doesn't necessarily mean being physically present in front of the students, but they should know that as long as they're ITB students, whenever they need me, they can contact me,“ she said.
At present, she is actively supervising both master's and bachelor's students. Additionally, she is currently mentoring two doctoral students.
When asked about her impressions in teaching students, she expressed, “In my opinion, not just me, but all educators will surely have their own satisfaction when what they teach is truly beneficial. In Islamic terms, it's considered a blessing. So, the blessings are endless,” she said.
Reporter: M. Naufal Hafizh
Translator : Firzana Aisya
Editor : Anggi Nurdiani (Management, 2024)