UMM Forestry Study Program Receives Excellent Accreditation

Two students of Forestry Study Program who are doing research. (Illustration Photo: Syifa Public Relations)

Maximum efforts and efforts and good cooperation have led the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) Forestry Study Program to achieve Excellent accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT). The accreditation change to Very Good is stated in the accreditation certificate issued last Tuesday (03/08). This achievement is a testament to the hard work that has been done by the UMM Forestry Study Program so far.

Head of Forestry Study Program, Dr. Ir. Joko Triwanto, M.P., said who could achieve this achievement thanks to the cooperation of various parties. Not only from study programs but also from multiple campus units and companion teams. The UMM Forestry Study Program managed to achieve Excellent accreditation after fulfilling nine criteria from BAN-PT. "This assessment is seen from the progress of the three years before the submission. So the achievement of this accreditation is something to be grateful for in difficult times like this," said Joko.

Furthermore, Joko explained that the forestry study program was the only study program at UMM that proposed nine accreditation criteria to BAN-PT. The nine criteria include education, teaching, research, community service, facilities, and infrastructure. Then there are tuition fees, collaboration with outside parties, forms of cooperation, and how the collaboration process works.

"In the assessment of cooperation with external parties, the process becomes a significant part. It is limited to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) but has to come to a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). So action has an important role in this assessment," said the FPP lecturer.

In terms of cooperation, Joko said that the forestry study program has collaborated with various national parks on the island of Java and outside Java. The forestry study program has collaborated with 15 national parks such as Alas Purwo and Bromo National Park. Likewise with Mount Merapi, Perhutani Research and Development Center (Puslitbang) in Cepu, Mangrove National Park, and so on.

"This form of collaboration with national parks will help students practice and do research later. The area covered in each national park is also wide and adequate," said Joko.

At the end of the interview, Joko hoped that the forestry study program would be even better than before in the future. This is not a leap from the ideals of UMM, which has a tag line from Muhammadiyah for the Nation. "We also hope that students will get good actual work practices. Even with the alumni who can be absorbed in various job fields, "he concluded. (syi/wil)