KUPANG - Following up on Permendikbudristek Number 53 of 2023 concerning Quality Assurance of Higher Education, one of which gives universities the flexibility to determine the type of final project other than the thesis, Nusa Cendana University (Undana) will immediately determine the type of final project through the issuance of guidelines or technical guidelines (juknis) for the final project.
This was conveyed by the Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. drh. Annytha I. R. Detha, M.Si after an academic visit to the University of Indonesia (UI) and IPB University last October 30 - 31, 2023.
The visit of Undana's Vice Rector I was also accompanied by the Coordinator of the Center for Curriculum Development and Learning Development, Dr. Yustersance Y. Manafe, ST; Coordinator of the Accreditation Center, drh. Meity M. Laut, M.V.St; Head of ASIIN International Accreditation Team, Prof. Ir. Yoseph Seran Mau, M.Sc., Ph.D; Head of Academic and Student Affairs, Ponti A. Lape, S.Pt; Secretary of Vice Rector I, Erni F. Kadja, S.Pt., M.Si and Bernadian A. Ngefak, A.Md; and Academic Bureau Staff, Martha Weka, SH and Daud Puai, SE, M.Si.
The Vice Rector I said that Undana's visit to UI and IPB University was because the two campuses have long implemented the types of final assignments carried out by students, such as theses, journal publications, joint projects, product prototypes, prototypes or the like.
Therefore, Undana will also make technical guidelines or juknis related to the types of final assignments recognized at Undana.
"Well, to make the technical guidelines, we reflect on the big universities, namely UI and IPB, which have long practiced the completion of final assignments other than thesis, which can be in the form of journal publications, joint projects, product prototypes, prototypes or the like," said Prof. Annytha Detha in Kupang, yesterday.
Prof. Annytha Detha admitted, in changing or implementing the types of final assignments at Undana, there will definitely be obstacles. However, as IPB did, the most effective step Undana will take is to make a general guideline for the final assignment, while the Study Program will determine what types of final assignments are most appropriate and recognized in each Study Program.
"So later each study program has a final project, some are the same, some may not be the same in each study program, depending on the study program. That is what we learn at IPB," he said.
Final Project Synchronized with MBKM
In addition, as in IPB, the final project completion time must be synchronized with MBKM activities. "So, when for example students do MBKM outside the campus for 1 semester, it turns out that they also learn to make or design the final project which is poured in the form of a project, whatever the form of completion of the final project, depending on what they learn during MBKM," explained Warek I Undana.
In fact, Prof.Anytha Detha also revealed that UI has 27 forms of recognized final assignments. This is very helpful and easier for students, the implication is on the length of study. "So, if students have an alternative final project besides the thesis, it is possible for them to study on time for 8 semesters. Well, so far I have seen our academic data that students are not on time because the long time devoted is precisely on the completion of the final project," he said.
"Imagine, for a semester that has courses, they finish quickly but when there are only 6 credits in the final project, it can take up to 4 semesters or 2 years, so why is there so much time devoted to the final project?" asked Prof. Annytha Detha.
Therefore, he continued, with the existence of Permendikbud 53, it is an opportunity to find other patterns that can be applied at Undana to see alternatives to the final project other than the thesis.
Guidance Through Rector's Regulation
To compile and establish guidelines for the preparation of the final project, said Warek I Undana, of course it must be made into a Rector's Regulation by asking for consideration from the Undana Senate so that it can be ratified into a guide that can be applied at Undana.
"Of course this is good news for Prodi, because Prodi has many alternatives to produce outcomes other than thesis. " he said.
Example of Final Projects
Furthermore, Prof. Annytha Detha explained that the output of a student's final project could be a ready-to-use product. "For example, Computer Science students, for example, making an archive application project in an office with friends means completing an application that is directly implemented. So the product is not only a thesis but there are other products that are directly implemented by users," explained Undana's Vice Rector I.
"In the field of chemistry, for example, it is possible to produce compounds that are metabolic compounds from plants in NTT and become expensive output products, then register them with the Director General of Intellectual Property Rights as private property with a supervisor," continued Prof. Annytha Detha.
Selain itu, misalnya, jika seorang mahasiswa atau dengan kelompoknya melakukan proyek perubahan di suatu komunitas dalam bentuk proyek untuk desa bersih, dimana program itu nyata dan dirasakan manfaatnya oleh masyarakat. Begitupun dengan penelitian mahasiswa bisa menghasilkan publikasi jurnal internasional bereputasi.
Requirement for Academic Scientific Report
Although a number of activities can be claimed as a form of final project, according to Prof. Annytha Detha, any form of final project must have academic documentation or academic scientific reports submitted by students to the Study Program.
"For example, journal publication (done by students), means journal articles as their academic scientific report documents," explained Prof. Annytha Detha.
"Or for example a joint project, it means that he tells the background in his writing, the method and what the results are like both before and after the intervention. Well, these changes are listed in the academic scientific report, which can be an instrument for reporting the final project, whether in a thesis, journal publication, joint project, product prototype, prototype, and/or other forms," he continued.
Vice Rector I Undana hopes that this good news will be known by the academic community so that they can determine the right form of final project in each study program in Undana. (rfl)
