After nearly nine months of anticipation, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the international accreditation agency ASIIN (Akkreditierungsagentur für Studiengänge der Ingenieurwissenschaften, der Informatik, der Naturwissenschaften und der Mathematik) announced that all study programs at the Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), have achieved “Full Accreditation (without requirements).”
The six accredited programs include the undergraduate programs in Environmental Geography (GEL), Cartography and Remote Sensing (KPJ), and Regional Development (PW), each granted a seven-year accreditation period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2031. The Master’s programs in Geography (MGEO), Remote Sensing (MPJ), and the Doctoral program in Geography (DIG) received a six-year accreditation, effective from December 5, 2024, to September 30, 2030.
ASIIN is a non-profit accreditation agency specializing in the fields of Engineering, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics, aligning with the academic domains developed at the Faculty of Geography UGM for both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These fields fall under the subject-specific criteria developed by ASIIN, particularly for TC 03-Civil Engineering, Geodesy and Architecture, and TC 11-Geoscience.
Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, Dean of the Faculty of Geography UGM, stated that obtaining this international accreditation reflects a public responsibility to achieve professional, efficient, high-quality, transparent, and accountable academic management within the faculty.
He emphasized that international accreditation is not an end goal but an objective instrument indicating that the study programs within the Faculty of Geography are of superior quality and on par with similar programs worldwide. Additionally, this accreditation signifies that internationalization has become a culture internalized by all components of the Faculty of Geography.
“This accreditation achievement also reflects good synergy among all components, including lecturers, educational staff, students at all levels, strategic partners, and alumni. We extend our gratitude to everyone who has collaborated excellently to realize this international accreditation,” added the Dean.
Prof. Muhammad Kamal, Vice Dean for Education, Teaching, and Student Affairs at the Faculty of Geography UGM, conveyed that the faculty is committed to continually enhancing its international reputation and the quality of its study programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels through international accreditation.
“The Faculty of Geography is committed to continuous improvement and delivering our best efforts, especially in the academic field. This ASIIN international accreditation serves as evidence that our graduates’ output, curriculum, teaching methods, business processes, and resources comply with international standards. Achieving this accreditation is crucial for students to support various international exposure activities,” he stated.
The accreditation process, submitted in March 2024, required approximately one year of preparation. The ASIIN assessors conducted a visitation from April 22 to 24, 2024. The entire academic community of the Faculty of Geography UGM, including lecturers, educational staff, students, alumni, and users, participated in the preparation and implementation of the visitation, coordinated by the Faculty’s Quality Assurance Unit (UJM).
Dr. M. Widyastuti, Head of the Quality Assurance Unit at the Faculty of Geography UGM, stated that the extended accreditation period encourages study programs to continuously engage in ongoing improvements in academic quality assurance. Achieving this international accreditation will significantly enhance the academic reputation of the Faculty of Geography specifically and Universitas Gadjah Mada in general. This aligns with the vision and mission of UGM and the Faculty of Geography. Additionally, this accomplishment serves as evidence of fulfilling one of the Faculty’s Key Performance Indicators (TCK) related to international accreditation of study programs.
This ASIIN accreditation further solidifies the Faculty of Geography UGM’s role at both national and international levels in education, research, and community service. The importance of international accreditation for study programs aligns with the spirit of global and regional education, which has developed outcome-based education (OBE).
Listumbinang Halengkara, a doctoral candidate in the Geography Doctoral Program, expressed appreciation for this achievement and pride as a student. According to him, this accreditation is vital for students because ASIIN accreditation is a benchmark for the quality of a study program at the global level. “This means that upon graduation, the knowledge and degree I obtain will receive global recognition and can help enhance my recognition as an academic. I hope that the DIG program can maintain high-quality standards in every learning process and continue to innovate in contributing to the nation’s intellectual development,” he said.