Unemployment among graduates is something that every educational institution must anticipate. One of the efforts to achieve this is to ensure that education is relevant to the ever-changing world of work. This has led Widyatama University (Utama) to continuously make adjustments and be open to developments in the world of work in relation to the education it provides. This was stated by the Rector of Widyatama University, Dr. Mame S. Sutoko, Ir. DEA.
“The increasing role of human capital in an organization, which is becoming more strategic, has encouraged organizations to acquire human resources with clear and credible competency standards. For this reason, a credible certification-based learning process is needed to improve the competence of Widyatama graduates,” said Mame. Since September 2008, Utama has implemented SAP (System, Application, Product in Data Processing), an integrated ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system used to carry out multi-functional company functions such as sales, procurement, production, warehousing, accounting, payroll, and human resources. As of 2008, there were more than 82,000 companies in 120 countries using SAP, or no less than 18 million users. Therefore, this international certification program is implemented for lecturers and students.
The SAP learning outcome evaluation process is carried out by Edugate as the representative institution of SAP Indonesia. This starts with determining whether a participant has passed or failed. The evaluation is conducted online. Students who fail the certification exam are given two opportunities for remedial classes. If they still do not pass, they must retake the SAP course. According to the SAP University Partnership Program organizer, Edugate, Widyatama University has the largest number of SAP certification participants among 15 universities in Indonesia.
Achieving ISO Quality Management
Institutionally, Utama also continues to improve its competence. Since 2003, Widyatama University has achieved ISO 9001: 2000 Quality Management System Certification. Every three years, it is renewed by following the latest standards. Currently, it has been renewed to ISO 9001:2008.
“This achievement has gone through a long process that began in 1999, during the period of higher education mergers. The preparations made included changing the university culture, which was originally unfocused and had different standards between faculties, to now be consistent across the board,” said Tanti Irawati M., S.E., M.M., Head of the Main Quality Control Center.
Tanti also added that in maintaining this ISO certification, the university continues to develop and combine the requirements that students must meet. The quality policy at Utama is to always strive to produce professional graduates with excellence and competitiveness in business and commerce, built in a friendly campus atmosphere, and always developing themselves in the global community.
As part of its commitment, Utama also has a separate unit that handles the quality assurance system, namely the Widyatama Quality Control Center (PMW). It routinely maintains quality through an internal quality audit process in each unit three times a year. Several processes are audited, including the existence of procedures (present/absent), the suitability of procedure implementation (suitable/unsuitable), the suitability of system integration, and the streamlining of units into one common goal at Utama. The audit manager applies the “SADA” system, which stands for Centralized Administration, Decentralized Academia.
The quality assurance activities that Utama continuously carries out are:
- accreditation to control and audit the quality of higher education externally,
- Self-Evaluation Based Program Evaluation (EPSBED) related to the extension of operational permits,
- quality assurance through the implementation of ISO 9001:2008, and
- International Association of Universities so that it is listed in the international handbook of universities.
Mame explained that Utama implemented ISO because it is a system that has been established in many countries and therefore complies with international standards. Speaking of future goals, Utama will digitize its campus. This will become a core competency for students, supporting them in any field, given that many companies are already computer-based. One of the measures that will be taken is e-learning, a learning management system on computers. (AE-03/ Pikiran Rakyat)***
