A small team from Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Tuesday (8/11) conducted a study visit to Universitas Hasanuddin in order to obtain information in regards to the preparations a higher education institution needs to prepare prior to the attainment of an Autonomous Status (PTN BH).
The team that consisted of the Dean of the Tarbiyah and Education Faculty, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Thib Raya, M.A. and the Head of the Community Service Institution (LP2M), Prof. Askal Salim, M.Ag, Ph.D., were received by the Unhas Rector Prof. Dr. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, MA in her office, 8th floor of the Rectorate Building Unhas. In accepting the guests, the Rector was accompanied by the Vice Rector II Prof. Dr. Syamsul Bachri, S.H., M.S., Vice Rector IV Prof. dr. Budu, Sp.M(K), Ph.D., Secretary of the Board of trustees (MWA) Prof. Dr. Andi Pangerang Moenta, S.H., M.H., and Academic Senate Secretary, Prof. Dr. Ir. Moh. Restu.
During the meeting that took place for two hours, Unhas Rector Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu echoed the experiences that the University has gone through for the preparations of attaining the status, especially on how to establish the mindset required in the internal environment of the campus. As individuals are fragile of the certain negative thoughts related to the new status.
“The major obstacle of the Autonomous Status is the issue of education commercialization,” stated Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu. She further added that even without the status, education commercialization can still happen, but that will not take place. Unhas with the newly embraced Autonomous Status focuses on how the institution can be independent with the purpose of the highly qualified provision of education, and the implementation of other academic based activities.
According to Dwia, hard work is needed, and continuous preparations and meetings, in order to establish an understanding for the Autonomous Status. She further added that several other higher education institutions have made similar visits to understand the Unhas preparations, including Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA) and Universitas Negeri Malang (UM).
Prof. Ahmad Thib Raya that has for 7 years in the past held the position as the Rector of UIN Alauddin Makassar explained, the UIN Jakarta Rector targets the status of being autonomous before the completion of his Rector position by 2018.
“Therefore we are sent to a number of universities that has already attained the Autonomous Status, therefore we made this travel to Makassar,” stated Thib Raya while hoping that Unhas will want to supervise the process of UIN Jakarta shifting to the Autonomous Status.
