UNU Jogja Becomes a Benchmark Institution, Hosts Informatics Study Program Benchmarking Visit from UNU Sunan Giri

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) continues to strengthen its reputation as a reference institution for higher education governance within the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) network. Most recently, the Faculty of Information Technology (FTI) welcomed a benchmarking visit from the Faculty of Science and Technology of Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama (UNU) Sunan Giri on Friday, July 31.

The visit served as both a networking opportunity and a forum for sharing best practices in the management of academic programs, particularly the Informatics Study Program. During the meeting, representatives from both universities discussed strategies for institutional development, academic quality enhancement, and opportunities for collaboration in education, research, and community service.

The delegation from UNU Sunan Giri was led by Muhammad Jauhar Vikri, S.Kom., M.Kom., Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, accompanied by Ita Aristia Saida, S.Pd., M.Pd., Vice Dean; Ifnu Wisma Dwi Prastya, S.Kom., M.Kom., Head of Research and Innovation; and Afril Efan Pajri, S.Kom., M.Kom., Secretary of the Informatics Study Program.

The delegation was welcomed by Dr. M. Syamsiro, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at UNU Jogja, together with Dr. (cand.) Yana Hedriyana, Head of the Informatics Study Program, and members of the Informatics faculty.

In his remarks, Muhammad Jauhar Vikri explained that UNU Sunan Giri selected UNU Jogja as its benchmarking destination because of the university's remarkable institutional progress, particularly in managing its Informatics Study Program. He noted that despite being a relatively young university, UNU Jogja has achieved significant milestones that can serve as valuable references for other NU-affiliated higher education institutions.

"We have observed the impressive development of UNU Jogja in terms of institutional governance, study program management, and innovation. Therefore, we are eager to learn from and discuss the best practices that have been implemented here," he said.

He added that the benchmarking initiative was intended not only to gain insights into academic management but also to foster broader collaboration among universities within the Nahdlatul Ulama network.

Responding to the visit, Dr. M. Syamsiro expressed his appreciation and welcomed the opportunity to strengthen institutional cooperation. According to him, sharing knowledge and learning from one another are essential for accelerating quality improvement in higher education.

"Visits like this provide an excellent opportunity to exchange experiences. We believe that every university has unique strengths that can be shared and learned from," he said.

Syamsiro emphasized that, as a university in Yogyakarta committed to fostering a collaborative culture, UNU Jogja remains open to various forms of inter-institutional partnerships. Such collaborations are expected to strengthen the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi) while enhancing the quality of higher education across NU institutions.

"There are many opportunities we can explore together, including collaborative research, the exchange of best practices in study program management, and various academic initiatives that will benefit both institutions," he added.

In addition to discussing the governance of the Informatics Study Program, the two institutions exchanged insights on curriculum development, human resource capacity building, laboratory management, strengthening research culture, and strategies to enhance graduates' competitiveness in the era of digital transformation. As a follow-up to the benchmarking visit, both institutions agreed on several collaborative initiatives.

Yana Hedriyana, Head of the Informatics Study Program at UNU Yogyakarta, explained that the partnership would include the implementation of joint learning programs conducted in both hybrid and online formats, collaboration in carrying out the Tri Dharma of Higher Education—education, research, and community service—as well as strengthening student engagement through activities involving the Informatics Student Associations of both universities.

Through this benchmarking visit, UNU Jogja and UNU Sunan Giri are expected to strengthen their institutional partnership and initiate collaborative programs that contribute to the continuous improvement of higher education quality while reinforcing the network of Nahdlatul Ulama universities across Indonesia. [Latifah]