Footballer Pratama Arhan is set to be the first graduate from Universitas Dian Nuswantoro (Udinus) Semarang to receive a blockchain-based diploma in April 2026. He recently completed his thesis defense in the Sarjana Manajemen program on April 1. Udinus Rector Prof Pulung Nurtantio Andono expressed pride in Arhan's perseverance as a professional athlete pursuing academics.
Pratama Arhan, a defender for Bangkok United and Indonesia's national team, passed his thesis defense with revisions on Wednesday (April 1) in Udinus's Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB). His thesis is titled "The Role of Brand Ambassador, Social Media Marketing, and Brand Familiarity in Increasing Sales of Mizuno Football Shoes".
Arhan admitted to feeling nervous before the defense but was relieved upon passing. "Before starting, I was really nervous, but now it's done and I'm very happy, such a relief," he said. He plans to complete revisions quickly for this year's graduation and pursue an S2 in Communication Studies with a Udinus scholarship.
Udinus implements blockchain diplomas through partnerships with Dubai Blockchain Center, Indonesia Blockchain Center (IBC), and Sealbound UAE. The system ensures diplomas are transparent, secure, and tamper-proof, addressing document forgery risks in the digital era, according to Rector Prof Pulung. "This system addresses digital era challenges where document forgery risks are high," he stated.
The rector praised Arhan as an example for other athletes. "I'm happy. This is a positive example for other athletes that education is very important," he added. Thesis supervisor Dr Mahmud said Arhan explained his research well and will receive continued guidance on revisions.
