EduAsia News, Malang — The atmosphere on the meeting floor of the Global Partnership and Reputation (GPR) Unit at Brawijaya University (UB) on Wednesday afternoon, December 4, 2025, felt busier than usual. Several police officers in uniform were seen taking meticulous notes, nodding occasionally as UB presenters displayed slides on the university’s international programs. That day, the Indonesian Police College (STIK) had come for one primary purpose: to learn.
The STIK delegation was led by Senior Commissioner Dr. Bernard Sibarani, S.I.K., M.Si., Head of Kermadianmas STIK, accompanied by Senior Commissioner Didit Bambang Wibowo, S.I.K., M.I.K., as well as lecturers, faculty members, and staff. In recent years, UB has built a reputation for aggressively expanding its global profile—making it a natural destination for STIK’s benchmarking visit. The mission was clear: to study the implementation of UB’s International Undergraduate Program (IUP) and its signature double-degree schemes that have become key tools in its academic diplomacy.
The first session was opened by Arif Hidayat, S.Kom., Secretary of UB’s Directorate of Academic Administration and Services. With a calm tone, he emphasized that UB’s transformation is not mere rhetoric. He explained how nearly all academic services have shifted to digital systems developed internally by the university.
“New student registration, course management, data management, and even academic complaint services — most of these are developed in-house,” Arif said.
What intrigued the STIK delegation most was UB’s latest innovation powered by artificial intelligence. According to Arif, the university now uses ALMA—an AI-based machine that prints academic transcripts and student verification letters. “Students no longer need to meet academic officers,” he added. The explanation sparked quiet discussions among STIK members, as if imagining how similar technology could be adopted within their institution.
The second presentation was delivered by Prof. Dr. Agustin Krisna Wardani, STP., M.Si., Head of the International Undergraduate Program. She elaborated on how the IUP has become one of UB’s most sought-after pathways, especially within the Faculty of Medicine.
“There are several overseas programs available to students, such as the short-term International Academic Program, supported through UB’s partnerships with universities in Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries,” Agustin explained.
Her presentation showed that UB is not merely offering an international label, but real global exposure—an essential asset for students preparing to compete in international arenas.
The final session was led by Dadang Meru Utomo, S.T., MURP., Ph.D., Head of UB’s Center for International Academic Degree Cooperation. He emphasized that UB’s joint degree and double degree programs are part of its strategy to solidify its academic standing globally.
“These programs aim to enhance the competitiveness of study programs and their graduates at both national and international levels, while strengthening UB’s academic networks with partner universities,” Dadang said.
For the STIK delegation, which is in the midst of designing its own international class, the presentation served as a practical roadmap—showing how internationalization can be built systematically.
The visit concluded with an in-depth discussion between the two institutions. STIK explored the technical aspects of managing an IUP, while UB shared experiences about challenges and implementation strategies.
The expectation is clear: that the insights gained from this benchmarking visit will soon be translated into concrete steps at STIK. More broadly, the visit is hoped to pave the way for deeper academic collaboration between UB and the police education institution.
As more campuses flock to UB to learn how to manage international programs, one thing becomes evident: Brawijaya University is no longer just a local player, but a national reference point in the landscape of global higher education. (*)
