UGM Vocational School is likely to develop D4 program. This program will produce scholars in applied sciences. The program development is also one attempt to answer to the demand for further study as requested by students in D3 program. “For future development, Vocational School will open the D4 program for D3 students to continue their study," said Director of UGM Vocational School, M. Arrofiq, S.T, M.T, Ph.D., on Tuesday (6/12) on the UGM campus.
Regarding the opening schedule, Arrofiq cannot confirm because this has yet to wait for the readiness of each study program. His office has done market research, cooperation opportunities, as well as existing facilities to make this program unified entity. "If the study program is ready, the D4 program will open, but I have no data about which study program is ready," he said.
Responding to the demands of D3 students who want a degree program, Arrofiq said there are fundamental differences between the education systems in diploma and undergraduate programs. Vocational School promotes skills more while degree program more encourages academic ability. "Both are different. Thus, the more possible development for Vocational Schools is the D4 program, a scholar in applied science," he explained.
Related to graduates from the four D3 majors (Tourism, Veterinary Medicine, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and Law) that are allowed to continue to S1 program at UGM, Arrofiq explained that this is a policy outside of the realm of Vocational School. The policy in the transfer of the four majors is embodied in Rector Regulation No. 599/P/SK/HT/2010.
Vocational School was established at the end of 2008, under Rector Regulation no. 518/P/SK/HT/2008. Since the opening of this School, the entire diploma program is managed directly by the University. Arrofiq said they continued to develop Vocational School since it opened officially in 2009. He also said that graduates from Vocational School are very popular and easily absorbed by the industry.
Responding to the plan of D4 program, one lecturer of Mechanical Engineering Study Program in the Vocational School, Dr. Wikan Sakarinto, said she would encourage all study program to speed up the opening of D4. "We already have a design. However, the process can not be carried out overnight; it requires a long process," she said. Wikan said several factors would be impacted by the D4 opening. These are the number of faculty, number of rooms and systems.
In the same place, Head of UGM Public Relations and Protocol, Drs. Suryo Baskoro, M.S., said that based on experience so far, students who graduated from Vocational School have continued their degree education at other universities. Up to now, the graduates have been quite well accepted by those universities.