Beginning in 2020 the Ministry of Education and Culture will enactIndependent Campus Learning Program (MBKM). This program provides opportunities for students to explore new learning experiences to enrich and deepen their insights and competencies according to the needs of the world of work and the world of the future. Universities are required to be able to collaborate and open themselves up to the involvement of stakeholders in higher education, especially those who control the world of work. From this point of view, it appears that the MBKM conception is like the thoughts of Indonesian education figure, Ki Hadjar Dewantara, that “everyone becomes a teacher, every house becomes a school”.
Undiksha responded to this policy quickly by adjusting the curriculum to accommodate the MBKM spirit, namely by launching the 2020 Curriculum. This curriculum was developed with the flexibility of alternative implementations of independent learning for students. This curriculum provides an opportunity for students to be able to study three semesters outside of their study program: 1 semester of study outside the study program in PT and 2 semesters of learning activities outside of PT. This curriculum also provides answers to discourses related to the erosion of lecturer autonomy, the loss of the academic hegemony of PT, and the torn apart of the spirit of the university as the essence of PT. Not only does it provide space for students to gain experience outside the study program/university study program, but Undiksha also places lecturers in a strategic position as a compass that determines direction as in the pedagogical approach paradigm. Undiksha opened itself up to become a collaborative university.
To further operationalize the MBKM implementation, Undiksha also launched a guideline for implementing the MBKM curriculum for the Undiksha academic community. In 2020, as the start of the MBKM program, Undiksha students participated in the first flagship program launched by the ministry, namely the Pioneer Teaching Campus Program (39 students). In 2021, apart from participating in flagship programs, such as the Teaching Campus (KM) program (KM 1: 142 students, KM 2: 200 students), Independent Student Exchange (74 students), Apprenticeship (16 students), Independent Study (18 students), and Young Warriors (12 students), Undiksha has also implemented an independent MBKM program in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, namely the independent student exchange, teaching assistance, KKN-T, research program, independent study, humanitarian project, and apprenticeship.
Other activities that provide opportunities for students to study outside the PT are Indonesian Student Micro-Credentials (262 students), International Transfer Credit (3 students), overseas PPL (35 students), and International International Student Mobility Awards (1 student). There are a number of challenges faced in implementing MBKM and on the other hand, there are also a number of factors supporting the MBKM implementation strategy.
First, the spirit of ‘together in harmony’. The spirit of ‘together in harmony’ is the basic capital that animates the implementation of MBKM at Undiksha. It must be admitted, at the beginning of the emergence of MBKM, there was resistance to this program, especially from study programs. However, as stated by the Minister of Education and Research and Technology, “If there is no resistance, it means that the big change will not have enough impact. So I see that positive resistance is a challenge for us” (Kompas.com-04/02/2020). This shows that the transformation based on the spirit of togetherness in harmony at Undiksha is taking place, and at that time the 2020 Curriculum was born.
Second, the commitment and support from the leadership of PT. Undiksha leaders have a high commitment to supporting ministry programs. Regulations are prepared for the implementation of MBKM. In addition, a team was formed, the program PIC was appointed, and coordination was carried out with related institutions/agencies/units to implement the MBKM program.
Third, stakeholder support. Each stakeholder plays a harmonious role to support MBKM. Fourth, relaxation strategy and curriculum implementation. To relax the curriculum, PT provides full support.
Fifth, synergy with partners. This strategy is well played by each component in coordination cooperation and Public Relations Agency (BKK). The stages of partner identification, partner involvement, and partner commitment (MoU, MoA, SPK) were carried out neatly. For example, partner engagement is carried out through joint teaching (FY 2020/2021 with 43 partners, FY 2021/2022, full teaching scheme: 10 partners, joint teaching scheme with 16 partners). Undiksha 2021 will also organize International Virtual Summer School (IVSS) which involved 71 speakers (lecturers & practitioners) from 8 different countries with 8 partner institutions. The alternatives taken by Undiksha are structured forms and free forms through two arrangements, namely through the Chancellor’s Decree and the Dean’s Decree. The equivalence courses determined by the Dean’s Decree are determined by the study program based on the suitability/similarity of the program’s learning outcomes.
In the future, there will certainly be various challenges due to various problems.
However, as long as the spirit of ‘together in harmony’ continues to be used as the foundation, the MBKM implementation will undoubtedly be carried out well and meet common expectations. The preparation of a generation that is tough, competitive, and agile (agile) for a superior Undiksha will be the estuary of all the struggles that are being carried out. Greetings MBKM, greetings together in harmony.
I Putu Mas Dewantara
Ambassador of the Independent Campus of the Ministry of Education and Culture
