Bandung, Telkom University – The Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) launched the Merdeka Belajar policy: Merdeka Campus in early 2019. The contents of this policy are private universities accredited A, and B are given the autonomy to open new study programs (study programs), according to future industry needs.
Discussing this, Telkom University organized a Webinar that focused on “Merdeka Belajar, Merdeka Kampus” on Thursday (2/7) through the video conference application, Zoom. The resource persons in this discussion are the Vice-Chancellor I for Academic Affairs, Dr. Dadan Rahadian; Director of Bandung Techno Park. Dr. Maman Abdurahman; Director of Academic Affairs. Dr. Achmad Rizal.
There are four main pillars in the Merdeka Campus, including the Opening of New Study Programs, Higher Education Accreditation Systems, Legal Entity Universities, and Three Semester Learning Rights outside the Study Program. “We will convey the focus on the fourth pillar, following Permendikbud No.3 2020, regarding national standards for higher education.” Dadan.
“So independent learning is to follow the learning process outside the Study Program. Students require attending four semesters in the study program, then a maximum of 1 semester outside the study program at the same tertiary institution, and a maximum of 2 semesters outside the study program at different (external) tertiary institutions. ”
In the regulation above, students require to take part in community service learning, to provide benefits in various forms of activities for the community.
Interestingly, some student activities can be carried out off-campus, such as Industrial Practices; Village Development Project; Student exchange; Research / Research; Entrepreneur; Independent Study / Project; Humanitarian Project; Teaching in schools. All of the above activities must still be under the supervision of lecturers/instructors.
Seeing the Merdeka Campus policies above, Telkom University readily made the Mapping and Transformation of Learning Activities towards the Study Program of Freedom in Tel-U. In addition to the formation of General Basic Courses (MKDU), University Compulsory Courses (MKWU), students can participate in two groups of courses outside the main study program, the Work Ready Program (WRAP) and Student Elective Courses (MKPM).
The WRAP program divided into three concentrations. There are Internships, Entrepreneurship, and Research ship. So Tel-U graduates will later be divided into three major profiles, Professional, Practitioner, and Entrepreneurship if they take the WRAP group. The MKPM program includes University Selected Courses, Cross-Study Programs, Internship Activities in Units, Abdimas Activities, Student Exchange, Summer School, and others.
The two programs are the Steps of Telkom University in welcoming the Merdeka Belajar Merdeka Kampus program launched by the Ministry of Education and Culture. For information, Telkom University became the first campus to declare Merdeka Belajar in March 2020. The curriculum at Telkom University has also been adapted to the Merdeka Belajar curriculum, especially in this odd semester of 2020/2021.