UPNVJ Public Relations – Veteran National Development University Jakarta (UPNVJ) held a Project Based Learning (PjBL) Exhibition entitled “LENTERA Project: Lens of Exemplary Stories” on June 17–19, 2026, at the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Auditorium, UPNVJ Rectorate Building, Jakarta. The activity, which involved around 1,700 students teaching Compulsory Curriculum Courses (MKWK), featured documentary videos, visual storytelling, and posters that highlighted the stories of inspiring figures, figures, and heroes. The exhibition was organized by the MKWK Center under the auspices of the UPNVJ Quality Assurance and Learning Development Institute (LPMPP) as a space for appreciation and strengthening the character of national defense.
The LENTERA Project is a project-based learning innovation that encourages students to explore national values through research, field experiences, and creative production. Students not only learn concepts in the classroom but also document the real contributions of inspiring figures in various fields, including health, technology, energy, law, education, and socio-political issues.

Through this approach, students are positioned as both primary subjects of learning and producers of knowledge. They are trained to identify problems, conduct research, construct narratives, work in teams, and convey messages to the public through audio-visual media.
This initiative also serves as an academic response to the growing pessimism of some young people regarding the nation's future. The UPNVJ MKWK Center views the critical thinking of young people as a positive potential that needs to be channeled into constructive energy to prevent it from developing into distrust of institutions, a weakened sense of community, or apathy toward national issues.

In an interview, Aniek Irawatie, M.Si., Head of the MKWK Ranking Center at UPNVJ, explained that the LENTERA Project was designed to present an inspiring alternative narrative through the stories of individuals who have contributed to society. The exemplary behavior of these figures is expected to demonstrate that national defense is not only realized through military defense, but also through devotion, professionalism, integrity, innovation, and social awareness.
The three-day event featured the screening of documentary videos by students from various faculties at UPNVJ. The works chronicled the journeys, struggles, ideas, and contributions of figures selected by the students based on their research and relevance to community life.
In addition to the exhibition and film screenings, the event included seminars and collaborative work discussions with content creators and academics. The three speakers, Sherly Annavita Rahmi, Firdaus Noor, and Ahmad Prasetya Hady, provided perspectives on narrative development, the power of visual communication, the substance of documentary works, and conveying exemplary messages to the public.

This forum also provides a space for students to receive constructive feedback from experts. Through curation, discussion, and reflection, students are expected to understand that the quality of a work is determined not only by technical aspects, but also by the depth of research, the accuracy of perspective, the clarity of message, and its impact on the audience.
The LENTERA Project exhibition is open to academics and the general public, including students from other universities. This openness is expected to broaden the reach of student work and foster interaction between the campus and the community in developing a creative ecosystem based on national values.
This activity is part of the implementation of the impactful higher education paradigm. Learning outcomes go beyond academic grades or completing coursework, but are directed toward producing knowledge, works, and social messages that can provide tangible benefits to society.

LENTERA also strengthens UPNVJ's identity as a National Defense Campus. National defense values are translated into contextual learning processes through strengthening creativity, communication skills, collaboration, empathy, and concern for national issues.
In line with the policy direction of UPNVJ Rector, Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA, Comm., learning development must be able to connect academic competency with character building and social contribution. Through the LENTERA Project, UPNVJ strives to present a learning model that not only produces competent and adaptive students, but also possesses optimism, integrity, and a commitment to participate in national development.