UNS — The Rector of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, reviewed the challenges in equalizing the quality of higher education in Indonesia. One of the challenges is the high criteria set by the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT). Prof. Jamal delivered this review when he served as a speaker in RRI Pro 3 dialogue on “The Quality of Higher Education”, Friday (6/11/2020) evening.
Prof. Jamal who is also the Head of The Council of Rector of Indonesian State University (CRISU) considers that there are three challenges faced by higher education in Indonesia in improving the quality of education. First, the criteria implemented by BAN-PT in the accreditation process which poses a challenge for several universities in Indonesia because each region in Indonesia has different geographical condition. In the accreditation process held by BAN-PT, the board implements 9 criteria that include (1) vision, mission, objectives, and strategy, (2) organizational structure, governance, and cooperation, (3) students, (4) human resources, (5) finance, facilities and infrastructure, (6) education, (7) research, (8) community services, and (9) Tridharma’s outcomes and achievements.
“The different geographical condition but the standard is the same. Thus, if we see, the percentage (of university) accredited with Level A is low, it is not something easy when we talk about the quality of higher education because the implemented standard is difficult,” Prof. Jamal stated.
Prof. Jamal added that the number of universities accredited with level A or excellent in Indonesia is still low. From the recent data of BAN-PT in 2019, only 6% of universities in Indonesia are accredited with A or excellent, this is equal to 96 universities in total. Secondly, the problem of different quality assurance standard in each university. Prof. Jamal conveyed that the nine criteria applied by BAN-PT do not asses the process alone but also the output and outcome.
“Each university has an Internal Quality Assurance Standard (Standar Penjaminan Mutu Internal – SPMI) and External Quality Assurance Standard (Standar Penjaminan Mutu Eksternal – SPME) in BAN-PT. Please excuse me, but good universities have good quality assurance standard,” Prof. Jamal explained.
The third challenge, according to Prof. Jamal is university step in preparing Kampus Merdeka and Merdeka Belajar program promoted by the Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud) RI, Nadiem Makarim. Prof. Jamal reminded me that each university makes careful preparation so that both programs can be implemented well. This, according to Prof. Jamal, will set clearer quantitative parameter. “If the quantitative standard is clear when the management is not careful and do not perform careful preparation, the result will be less satisfactory because managing university requires large funds and great human resources,” Prof. Jamal concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
