YOGYAKARTA- Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has been granted an ‘A’ by the Accreditation Programme for Higher Learning Institution (AIPT), National Accreditation Agency of Universities (BANPT), as released end of February. UGM is one of eight universities that earned an ‘A’. UGM earned 378 of the maximum 400, while IPB 375 and ITB 370. Of all 30 universities accredited by the AIPT, eight earned ‘A’, 20 earned ‘B’ and two others earned ‘C’. The eight universities are UGM, IPB, ITB, UI, UNHAS, UII, UMY, and Univ. Muhammadiyah Malang.
Responding to the matter, Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. dr. Iwan Dwi Prahasto, M.Med.Sc., Ph.D., said that the accreditation was not the ultimate goal of UGM. UGM’s grade indicated that the continuous quality improvement made by UGM has yielded positive results. “The process will be sustained more systematically so as to produce continual improvement,” Prof. Iwan said in his office on Wednesday (3/4).
In his opinion, to get an ‘A’ is not easy as there are various important aspects to be assessed, such as achievement of vision and mission, goal and target, administration governance, quality management and assurance, students and graduates, human resource, curriculum, funding, infrastructures, IT, research, collaboration and community service. Thus, strong commitment is required from everyone. “Quality improvement programme would be successful without their hard work,” he added.
Another important thing related to the AIPT assessment is the funding model implemented by UGM for unfortunate students. “UGM has 150 scholarships to increase access to higher learning for unfortunate students who have strong academic achievements,” he said.
Of the total 58 thousands of students, UGM has 2080 permanent lecturers in addition to some 400 non-permanent ones. “Over 38 percent of UGM lecturers hold doctoral degree, while the number of professors is around 300,” he said.
The satisfactory accreditation has added the spirit for UGM to earn international accreditations. Sustainable quality improvement has been implemented by various UGM units. Prestigious international recognitions have been achieved, for example, Chemistry study programme is the first UGM study programme that has been accredited internationally by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), London. Meanwhile, Management and Accounting programme of UGM is currently in the accreditation process conducted by Association to Advance Collegiate School of Business (AACSB). “If the process runs well, UGM will become the first Indonesian university whose Management and Accounting programme is accredited by the AACSB,” he concluded.