EduAsiaNews, Yogyakarta — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) has become a benchmarking reference for the Faculty of Social Sciences of Universitas Puangrimaggalatung, South Sulawesi, in efforts to strengthen faculty governance and enhance the quality of social science education. This initiative serves as a shared learning platform among private higher education institutions (PTS) in responding to challenges related to competitiveness, accreditation, and graduate quality amid the evolving landscape of Indonesia’s higher education sector.
The benchmarking visit, held on Wednesday (January 14), was formally received by the Dean of FISIPOL UMY, Prof. Dr. Phil. Ridho Al-Hamdi, along with the faculty leadership team. The delegation from Universitas Puangrimaggalatung comprised university and faculty leaders, lecturers, and students. The benchmarking agenda focused on strategic discussions concerning faculty governance, learning transformation, and human resource development.
Prof. Ridho emphasized that inter-university benchmarking, particularly among private universities, should be positioned as a collaborative effort rather than a superior–inferior relationship. According to him, the challenges currently faced by private higher education institutions demand a culture of mutual learning and the sharing of best practices to ensure institutional resilience and sustainable growth.
“Benchmarking is not about determining who is superior, but about how we can learn from and strengthen one another. Amid accreditation pressures, quality demands, and global uncertainties, private universities need to build collective resilience,” Ridho stated.
He also highlighted the importance of managing academic staff as the primary foundation of faculty quality. Career mentoring for lecturers, a supportive culture in academic rank advancement, and an institutional-oriented mindset were identified as key factors enabling faculties to grow collectively and sustainably.
Meanwhile, the Chair of the Senate of Universitas Puangrimaggalatung, Dr. Muhammad Hasbi, M.M., explained that the benchmarking initiative aimed to gain insights into ideal operational practices, particularly in faculty management and the transformation of social science learning. He noted that his institution is preparing for upcoming study program re-accreditation processes, making it essential to learn from more experienced institutions.
Hasbi also underscored the importance of student involvement in benchmarking activities. Students are expected not only to understand theoretical concepts in the classroom but also to gain firsthand exposure to academic culture, governance practices, and the learning atmosphere at other universities.
“We want students to learn directly, absorb valuable experiences, and bring back best practices that can support their personal development while contributing to institutional improvement,” he remarked.
Through this benchmarking activity, FISIPOL UMY reaffirmed its role as a strategic partner for fellow private universities in strengthening educational quality, while promoting inter-institutional collaboration as a collective response to future challenges in higher education.
