The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI) has succeeded in obtaining accreditation from an international institution named The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) for a master’s degree program in Chemistry. “The achievement of this international accreditation strengthens the performance evidence of FMIPA UI, especially on Key Performance Indicators (KPI) 8, which is the number of internationally accredited study programs. It is all thanks to the good foundation in the Department of Chemistry, starting from its quality of the human resources, management, facilities, and productive academics who have produced international journal publications,” said Dean of FMIPA UI Dede Djuhana, Ph.D.
Furthermore, Dede Djuhana assesses that the lecturers and academic staff in the Department of Chemistry are quite adaptive in responding to various policy changes, so that they can quickly adjust to new rules related to international accreditation and the like. He hopes that all study programs at FMIPA UI which have won international accreditation will be able to strengthen networks with international partners.
The achievement of accreditation for the master’s program in chemistry follows the success of the Bachelor of Chemistry Study Program which had already received the same accreditation in 2019. The RSC team announced the accreditation directly on December 10, 2022 via official electronic mail. The accreditation certificate was received by the executive of FMIPA UI on Thursday, January 5, 2023.
The RSC accreditation for the master’s program in chemistry was obtained after going through an assessment and visitation process by two independent assessors, namely Dr. Jason Lynam FRSC from University of York and Dr. Richard Ansell, M.A., Cchem, MRSC., from University of Leeds, as well as one person from the RSC secretariat, Miss Kim Smith, Cchem, MRSC in November 2022.
RSC (Royal Society of Chemistry) is a professional association of scholars in the United Kingdom which aims to develop chemistry. Through accreditation, RSC promotes good practices of chemistry education in universities and ensures that future chemical scientists are knowledgeable and competent.
According to Head of the Academic Quality Assurance Unit of FMIPA UI Dr. Denny R. Silaban, M.Kom., as a special accreditation body in the field of chemistry, RSC stipulates various assessment indicators consisting of aims of the department, delivery methods, transferable skills, quality assurance, resources, laboratory facilities, library and it resources, safety and practical documentation, laboratory supervision, inclusion and diversity, staff development, academic development and well being, and feedback from previous accreditation.
The RSC accreditation process for this chemistry master’s program, as Dr. Denny explained, was not much different from the accreditation process for the Bachelor of Chemistry Study Program. The assessment focuses on the quality of learning, including the department’s vision and mission which are derived in learning outcomes (LO), strategic plan which is strategies for graduates to achieve LO, curriculum, improvements on student skills through practicum activities, opportunities for students to carry out field work practices, and the system of final assignments for students.
In the Master of Chemistry Study Program, more emphasis is placed on the depth and breadth of knowledge of chemistry being taught, the appropriateness of teaching methods, and assessment methods. Not only that, Dr. Denny also mentioned that professional skills, practical skills, learning environment, and project work are also things to consider in the assessment.
“There is not much different between the accreditation process for bachelor’s and master’s programs. For the master’s program, the emphasis is more on the depth of knowledge provided, the appropriateness of teaching methods, and assessment methods for the master’s level. Besides that, professional skills, practical skills, learning environment, and project work are also considered.
Head of the Department of Chemistry FMIPA UI Dr. Asep Sefumillah said that the quality of a study program must have an impact on society, nation, and state, especially in producing excellent, competitive, innovative, and adaptive human resources. With this accreditation achievement, the Department of Chemistry and its study programs receive various benefits, including having added value for graduates so that they more stand out and competitive in entering the job market, having selling points for prospective new students to continue their studies at the Department of Chemistry UI, having wider opportunities in obtaining research funding and scholarships, increasing international recognition so as to expand international collaboration networks.
“The advantage of this RSC accreditation for the Department of Chemistry is that it increases the confidence of our alumni in starting their careers and provides wider opportunities for students and lecturers to create collaboration with partners in the academic and research fields at the national and international levels,” said dr. Asep.
Author: Public Relations of FMIPA | Editor: Mariana
