Starting in 2024, UNHAS through the Institute for Quality Assurance and Educational Development (LPMPP) was asked to host the Second National Meeting for Quality Assurance for Legal Entity State Universities (PTN-BH) throughout Indonesia. A total of 46 quality assurance management delegates from 21 PTN-BH actively participated in this national meeting which lasted for two days, 11-12 January 2024 at the UNHAS Hotel and Convention, Makassar.

The activity began with remarks from the Chair of LPMPP UNHAS Prof. Dr. Ir. Musrizal Muin, M.Sc., who welcomed and welcomed all PTN-BH delegates who attended the meeting. He said that quality assurance institutions have a strategic role in supporting the vision and mission of higher education. Prof. Musrizal revealed that the meeting held by 21 PTN-BH throughout Indonesia was the second meeting after being held in 2023 by the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) as the host for the activity. This second national meeting aims to follow up on the results of the first national meeting, namely establishing a PTN-BH Quality Assurance Network (JPM) throughout Indonesia, finalizing the Work Terms of Reference (KAK), and capturing other important issues related to quality assurance experienced by assurance managers. PTN-BH quality. According to him, efforts to improve the quality of education must continue to be implemented through continuous evaluation and adaptation to the latest developments. “It is hoped that the results of this second national meeting will become recommendations or solutions in encouraging quality assurance of higher education in Indonesia,” said Prof. Musrizal.

The second national meeting for PTN-BH quality assurance in Indonesia was officially opened by the Chancellor of Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, M.Sc.. The Chancellor of UNHAS warmly welcomed all participants in the second national meeting for PTN-BH quality assurance throughout Indonesia and conveyed information about UNHAS’s achievements in carrying out and implementing UNHAS’s vision and mission. In his speech, the Chancellor of UNHAS said that UNHAS is the only PTN-BH in the Eastern Region of Indonesia, making UNHAS a partner of higher education institutions that balances universities in the Eastern and Western Regions of Indonesia. According to him, through the meeting which brought together 46 delegates from 21 PTN-BH, ideas and ideas would be produced that could produce better quality education in the future. Prof. Jamaluddin said that the presence of all PTN-BH at UNHAS could encourage cooperation and grow the excellence of each university. At the end of his speech, the Chancellor of UNHAS said that this activity would be presented to the Indonesian Chancellor’s Forum.

On the first day of the Second National Meeting, all participants discussed the work terms of reference (KAK) led by Prof. Ir. Dr. rer . Nat . Poerbandono (Chair of SPM-ITB) and agreed to change the name from the Quality Unit Network (JUM) to the PTN-BH Quality Assurance Network (JPM) which aims to become a forum for expressing a common attitude in building a culture of quality in higher education and a forum for discussion between quality assurance managers to meet, share and represent each other. In the KAK it is explained that JPM PTN-BH works independently and voluntarily and carries out strategic efforts that provide mutual benefits in building a culture of quality in higher education. In its management, JPM PTN-BH is coordinated by a coordinator and assisted by a secretary who is agreed upon during regular meetings at least once a year. The members of JPM PTNBH consist of quality managers both at the university level and lower organs.

Furthermore, on the second day of the first session, all participants who were leaders and quality assurance managers from 21 PTN-BH throughout Indonesia expressed their aspirations regarding issues related to quality assurance. The general aspiration summarized is that all universities in Indonesia, especially PTN-BH, are important partners of the government in providing higher education which aspires to grow a culture of quality. Any provisions and arrangements made by the government will have an impact on the outcomes and achievements of higher education itself. Therefore, JPM PTN-BH is of the view that communication and mutual content between the government and higher education providers will be the best way to encourage the growth of a culture of quality itself. In more detail, JPM PTN-BH highlighted several technical issues relating to the recognition of international accreditation institutions, the implications of changes in higher education regulations since the enactment of Minister of Education and Culture Regulation No. 53 of 2023, especially graduation requirements, harmony between accreditation, ranking and performance indicators, as well as accreditation obligations for vocational programs. In line with this, JPM PTN-BH will act actively to open communication, especially with accreditation institutions, in this case BAN-PT and LAM as well as the government to contribute constructive thinking in such a way as to ensure the growth of a quality culture of competitive Indonesian higher education.

On the second day, the second session was a sharing session regarding best practices in the quality assurance system at PTN-BH. The speakers who filled the session were Prof. Dr. Ir. Aulia Siti Aisjah, MT (Head of Quality Assurance Office, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology); Prof. Ir. Nilda Tri Putri, MT, Ph.D., IPU, ASEAN Eng. (Chair of the Quality Assurance Institute, Andalas University); Prof. Dr. Ir. Suhendraayatna, M.Eng. (Chair of the Institute for Educational Development and Quality Assurance, Syiah Kuala University); and Dr. Siti Julaeha, MA (Head of Quality Assurance Office, Open University). In their presentations, the speakers conveyed the importance of choosing an international accreditation institution based on OECD-UNESCO, the urgency in carrying out UNESCO’s mandate so that HEIs pay attention to students with disabilities, the adjustment of SPMI Standards to new policies, and the need for synchronization between PT and PDDIKTI data which sometimes do not match . All important issues related to quality assurance will be discussed further in April 2024 at the Third National Meeting at the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) by inviting the BAN-PT Accreditation Council. Furthermore, at the end of the session it was also determined that the organizer for the Fourth National Meeting would be Andalas University.

The series of events for the Second National PTN-BH Quality Assurance Meeting throughout Indonesia was also accompanied by a welcome dinner and tour on the Indonesian Pusaka Pinisi Ship and a city tour to several interesting places in the city of Makassar such as Center Point of Indonesia (CPI), 99 Kubah Mosque, Fort Rotterdam, and the Somba Opu souvenir and souvenir center.