Today (November 27th), Dr. rer.nat. Abdul Haris, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, and his staff received a visit from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) assessor team, consisting of Dr. Martyn Coles (Victoria University of Wellington, Australia), Dr. Kevin McCullough (Heriot-Watt University, UK), and Dr. Alice O’Connor, RSC Representative, in Meeting Room A, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Administration Center, University of Indonesia, Depok.
The RSC assessor team’s visit was to conduct international accreditation for the FMIPA UI undergraduate chemistry study program.
Previously, the FMIPA UI undergraduate chemistry study program was nationally accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT). Through BAN-PT accreditation, the FMIPA UI undergraduate chemistry study program achieved an A grade. Furthermore, the FMIPA UI undergraduate chemistry study program achieved a score of 5 out of 7 in the ASEAN regional assessment by the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA).
Haris stated that this accreditation is not merely an obligation, but also represents the efforts and commitment of the FMIPA UI Chemistry Undergraduate Program to improve academic quality assurance standards and gain recognition as an internationally recognized program by the chemistry community worldwide.
“We have achieved BAN-PT accreditation and AUN-QA assessment; now it’s time to raise the standards to the international level. This is crucial for FMIPA UI’s Chemistry Undergraduate Program to gain international recognition,” he concluded.
The results of the RSC team’s visit serve as the basis for the evaluation of the FMIPA UI Chemistry Undergraduate Program accreditation assessment. FMIPA UI is optimistic about achieving international recognition through accreditation by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the leading accreditation body in the chemistry field.
The Head of the FMIPA UI Academic Quality Assurance Unit (UPMA), Dr. Denny R. Silaban, M.Kom., explained that preparations for the RSC accreditation began in April 2018.
Aspek penilaian RSC ini, kata Denny, lebih fokus pada kualitas pembelajaran, diantaranya visi dan misi departemen yang diturunkan dalam LO (learning outcomes), strategic plan namely strategies for graduates to achieve LO, curriculum, improving student skills through practical activities, opportunities for students to undertake Field Work Practice, and a system for implementing students’ final assignments.
“In delivering lectures, it must be included transferable skill, dan dipastikan bahwa transferable skill itu sampai ke mahasiswa”. papar Denny.
Then regarding the evaluation of lectures and students, ensuring the quality of academics, lecturers, educational staff, and facilities and infrastructure, including requesting evaluations from stakeholder (lecturers, students, alumni, government, industry).
Specifically for chemistry, Denny continued, laboratory facilities are crucial, as is HSE (Health and Safety) because they involve hazardous materials.
Still on the same day, after doing the process review accreditation documents, the assessor team reviewed directly at the Chemistry Department.
The series of visitation activities was closed with a public lecture delivered by Dr. Alice O’Connor with material entitled Engaging with the Royal Society of Chemistry and Dr. Martyn Coles with material entitled Low-Valent Chemistry of the Havier Main Group Elements.
