IO, Surabaya – After years of first-grade accreditation status given by the National Higher Education Accreditation Board (BAN-PT), Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS) was again embraced by the Directorate General of Learning and Student Affairs (Ditjen Belmawa) for the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti) to handle another five universities in the same region.
Counsel aimed at completing this Internal Quality Assurance System (SPMI) was embodied in the PT SPMI Comprehensive Workshop which was hosted for two days at Santika Premiere Hotel Surabaya, beginning Friday (11/5).
The five universities under ITS are University of Darul Ulum Jombang, STT STIK MA International, Semen Indonesia International University (UISI), STKIP PGRI Situbondo, and Ibrahimy University. These programs followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the ITS Rector, Prof Ir Joni Hermana MSc ES PhD, the previous April.
This objective is to increase the number of study programs that receive higher education quality services. In addition, it is intended to encourage internal improvement of all sectors, in order to pursue the highest level of accreditation status for years to come.
Joni stated that this quality assurance system is very important for existing universities, particularly private ones. Nowadays, the public is beginning to express their concern about the quality of education, no longer simply about the degree itself. “Is there anyone who wants to place their trust in unqualified educational institutions? Therefore, through this program, ITS, together with Kemenristekdikti, enables East Java’s universities to enhance their quality in all aspects,” Joni explained.
What’s more, another expected benefit of this program is to shape a quality culture. This comprises mindset, attitude, and behaviour, based on the Directorate General of Higher Education standards. “Because a fine accreditation status could only be sourced from a growing quality culture within their daily operations,” said the professor of Environmental Engineering.
Furthermore, according to Joni, those five universities under ITS patronage are expected to be able to institutionalize and implement an internal quality assurance system; thus, in the near future, such excellence will also be transmitted to other educational institutions which still need assistance, on an ongoing basis. “This is thus like a mother who guides and accompanies her child to develop more thoroughly, especially in terms of quality aspects,” said Joni.
Activities which still need to be carried out by ITS, along with its five subsidiaries, include a three-day internship program at ITS for all subsidiary representatives.
“Here, the teams from each university will attend ITS to study the standards of institutions, faculties, and departments, in ascertaining how the teaching process has been implemented by ITS so far,” explained Prof Dr Ir Aulia Siti Aisjah MT, Head of ITS Quality Assurance Office.
As also explained on that occasion, facilitators will be provided by ITS to be in charge of direct assistance to five university representatives. In addition, facilitators have a mission to visit a university under their responsibility in August.
“ITS facilitators will pledge to the local university leader with trial results to set up quality improvement programs,” said Prof Aulia, the Event Chairman.
After that, an internal quality audit will be held in September in the form of Quality Planning, Quality Implementation, Quality Evaluation, Quality Control and Quality Improvement (PPEPP). “PPEPP aims to evaluate all related activities that have been implemented,” said the first Indonesian female professor in the field of Engineering Physics.
A presentation of their progress will be held in October. Aulia explained how the presentation will show all the activities that have been thus far implemented at each respective university.
The final stage of this counselling process is an evaluation activity in November, aimed at grading the entire series of activities that have been carried out. “A further mentorship session is scheduled for a month, should they encounter any difficulties,” she concluded. (ITS)