Student Stories

“Don’t give up, strive for the best and care for the people around you”. – Dr. Ilung

While learning is a lifelong journey, there are some values that leave you a transformed individual. For Dr. Ilung Pranata, a Data Scientist at SAP, persistence was of utmost importance while he strived for the best in his academic journey. From when he started his degree in Information Technology from University of Newcastle at PSB Academy, all the way to graduating with his PhD in philosophy, Dr. Ilung has defined what it means to have a passion for learning. The significant effort he has put in this journey, however, did not take away from how much he values the experiences that lay beyond the classroom.

Working with PSB Academy’s Student Affairs and student counsellors, he planned and organised various student events during the course of the years. While juggling with planning for exciting student events and his major assignments were taxing, he now reminisces how bittersweet these moments were. His mantra for success has been to make the most out of his education with solid time-management.

Since attaining his PhD in 2013 from The University of Newcastle, Australia through PSB Academy, Dr. Ilung has impressed his colleagues and those who know him both with his quality of work, and his energy, collegiality, and sharp intellect. From a student to a postgraduate researcher to an academic colleague, he continues to make an impact in whatever he does.

Today, his research has taken him to countless international conferences in East Asia to Europe. With his affable personality, leadership and social qualities, Dr. Ilung is passionate about his work, and life as a full-time IT lecturer at the University of Newcastle is keeping him very busy. In his spare time when he is not doing his research in computer security and online trust in Digital Ecosystem, he would participate in community service and connect with the Singapore Alumni chapter in Newcastle.