The UGM Faculty of Pharmacy is hosting a site visit from the Accreditation Agency for Study Programmes in Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics (ASIIN) on Jan. 15-16. The purpose of this visit is to assess the eligibility of five study programs within the faculty for ASIIN accreditation.
The five programs from the Faculty of Pharmacy include the Undergraduate Pharmacy Program, Professional Pharmacist Program, Master’s in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Master’s in Clinical Pharmacy, Master’s in Pharmacy Management, and Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
ASIIN assessors, university leaders, and faculty representatives are attending the accreditation process to elaborate on the quality of UGM’s academic and non-academic programs.
Several topics were discussed during the session with the assessors, including student mobility, research collaboration, funding, and student activities.
“This international accreditation is part of UGM’s commitment to accelerating the quality of education and exploring its potential contribution to society,” said UGM Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching, Professor Wening Udasmoro, on Wednesday (Jan. 15), at the Multimedia Room, UGM Central Office.
Rainer Arnold Dipl. Phys, one of the ASIIN assessors, discussed the Faculty of Pharmacy’s efforts to improve learning quality and promote its study programs.
During the event, Professor Udasmoro mentioned that UGM offers various international mobility programs for students and lecturers.
“The number of students who have received international exposure programs has reached 2,000,” she said.
In 2024, Professor Udasmoro added that programs like the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) from the government and inter-university collaborations have facilitated students to study at overseas universities.
“We believe that cultural exchange through student mobility is one of UGM’s pillars. It is also a way to understand global situations and collaborate,” Professor Udasmoro explained.
Regarding international cooperation, she noted that the Faculty of Pharmacy already has student exchange programs with Leiden University and Groningen University.
This commitment to international collaboration is further realized through research collaborations, which enable lecturers to publish in international standard journals.
UGM’s Director of Partnerships and Global Relations, Professor Puji Astuti, explained that lecturer mobility is highly effective in building international networks and improving the quality of university research.
Additionally, UGM maintains its standards by recruiting educators with international experience or those who have participated in global networks.
Director of Education and Teaching, Professor Gandes Retno Rahayu, stated that this program provides opportunities for UGM educators to gain international exposure.
“UGM also has training programs for lecturers and non-teaching staff. We bring in experts as needed. They come and conduct training at UGM,” she explained.
Another ASIIN assessor, Professor Moritz Bünemann from the University of Marburg–Phillips, inquired about UGM’s efforts to manage learning quality concerning students.
Professor Rahayu explained that UGM implements open communication with students through feedback and discussions to enhance learning.
“Our students are critical; they submit evaluations to the faculty and university. I think this is very good as it creates a balanced role,” she explained.
These efforts are also incorporated into the Simaster system in the Evaluation of Lecturers by Students (EDOM), conducted after mid-term and final exams.
Students can assess the learning process and even provide suggestions and feedback to the university. Students also actively organize discussion sessions with the faculty or advocate for services or campus policies.
The ASIIN accreditation assessment for UGM’s Faculty of Pharmacy is being held for two days. The reassessment comes after two study programs received ASIIN certification in 2021 and are being renewed this year for two programs.
This accreditation is hoped to serve as UGM’s consistent effort to evaluate and improve the quality of education and teaching.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Donnie