PTKIN Leadership Forum Discusses Academic Policy during Pandemic Period

Rectorate, UIN News Online – PTKIN Leadership Forum held a year-end Coordination Meeting (Rakor) in Jayapura, Papua, on 27-30 December 2020. By raising the theme  “Merangkul Pulau, Menyatukan NKRI”, this meeting was attended by the rectors / chairmen of 17 UIN, 36 IAIN, and 7 STAINs throughout Indonesia. Among the agendas discussed were policy on academic activities during the Covid-19 pandemic in the academic year 2021/2022.

“This coordination meeting discusses the performance evaluation in 2020 and the projected development of PTKIN in 2021,” said the Rector of UIN Jakarta Amany Lubis to UIN News Online in her office, Tuesday (01/05/2021).

The Coordination Meeting was opened by Babun Suharto, Chairman of the Indonesian PTKIN Leadership Forum. In his remarks as quoted by www.kemenag.go.id, he said that the Coordination Meeting was expected to produce recommendations related to the quality improvement of PTKIN, especially in terms of learning policies.

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, universities are also faced with various challenges. “Therefore, universities are required to be able to adjust to the development of life that demands fundamental changes,” Babun who also serve as the Rector of IAIN Jember, East Java.

Babun also mentioned the “independent campus” policy which requires an umbrella. Therefore, according to Babun, the Coordination Meeting of the PTKIN Leadership Forum throughout Indonesia has a strategic meaning in order to produce various recommendations.

Meanwhile, the forum agreed on five points of recommendations to be used as leadership policies in each PTKIN.

First, lecturing activites for the even semester of the academic year / 20212022 are conducted in a blended manner, namely online and offline. The implementation of online lectures still has many shortcomings and needs quality improvement. Meanwhile, offline lectures are coordinated with the local Covid-19 Task Force. The use of these two methods must be managed wisely by each work unit (satker).

Second, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is still burdening the economic conditions of the students' and their parents. They are still demanding a cut in the single tuition fee (UKT). To cut the UKT amount, it needs to be regulated by a Regulation of the Minister of Religion (PMA), while PMA regarding reducing the amount of UKT in the past is only for the odd semester.

Third, the implementation of "Independent Campus" requires technical guidance so that there are standard guidelines and ensure quality. In addition, there needs to be cooperation (MoU) with various parties coordinated by the Director General of Islamic Education.

Fourth, whether or not the addition of permanent non-PNS lecturers is allowed to cover the ratio of the number of lecturers to students. And fifth, the PTKIN Leadership Forum needs to send a notice to the Director General of Islamic Education to discuss the above issues. (usa/ns)