The Faculty of Social Sciences and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) conducted a benchmarking visit to Universitas Pembangunan Nasional (UPN) Veteran Jakarta on Monday, June 19, 2023. This visit was part of FISIP USU’s preparation for FIBA A international accreditation. FIBA A (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation) is a global accreditation institution established in 1994 and based in Germany. It operates under the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR). The Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture (DIKTI) officially recognized it under Ministerial Decree No. 83/P/2020 on International Accreditation Institutions.

UPN Veteran Jakarta is preparing for the FIBA A accreditation visit from Germany on June 20-21, 2023. FISIP USU’s presence during the visit aimed to observe and learn from UPN Veterans' preparations for welcoming the FIBA A accreditation team.

The Dean of FISIP USU, Dr. Hatta Ridho, S.Sos., MSP, stated:

“FISIP USU is working on FIBA A accreditation for five programs that have already achieved the highest national accreditation status (Unggul): Communication Science, Sociology, Social Welfare, Anthropology, and Political Science. The preparation process for international accreditation started at the beginning of 2023. However, we still need to learn from other universities about compiling the Self-Evaluation Report (SER) and implementing an Outcome-Based Education (OBE) curriculum, which is a key requirement for international accreditation.”

In addition to completing the SER document, UPN Veteran Jakarta has also renovated various learning facilities to meet international standards. These improvements include introducing co-working spaces for lecturers, literacy rooms, upgraded teaching facilities, and modernized lecture halls.

Dr. Kusumajanti, S.Sos., M.M., M.Si., Vice Dean 1 of FISIP UPN Veteran Jakarta, shared that their international accreditation process has been ongoing for the past two years. She emphasized that international accreditation focuses not only on faculty achievements but also on their impact on students.

“A key aspect of FIBA A accreditation is ensuring that students are actively involved in faculty research and publications.”

The FIBA A cluster team at UPN Veteran Jakarta highlighted the importance of attracting inbound students, especially from international institutions, to gain global recognition.

Strengthening Academic Collaboration Between FISIP USU and UPN Veteran Jakarta

Aside from discussions on FIBA A accreditation, the visit also resulted in agreements for academic collaboration between the two universities. These agreements include:
✅ Journal exchange programs
✅ Collaboration in journal management and editorial involvement
✅ Joint community engagement programs

Only one program at Universitas Sumatera Utara has obtained international accreditation—the Chemical Engineering program, which received recognition from the Indonesian Accreditation Board for Engineering Education (IABEE). FISIP USU’s benchmarking visit will provide valuable insights into the FIBA A accreditation process.

Ongoing International Accreditation Efforts at Universitas Sumatera Utara

A total of 14 study programs at USU are preparing their Self-Evaluation Reports (SER) for international accreditation. These include:

FISIP USU (Cluster 1 – FIBA A Accreditation)

  • Communication Science
  • Sociology
  • Social Welfare
  • Anthropology
  • Political Science

Other Programs at USU (Cluster 2 – FIBA A Accreditation)

  • Law
  • Agribusiness
  • Accounting
  • Development Economics
  • Management

Programs Under ASIIN Accreditation (Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Mathematics)

  • Animal Science
  • Food Science and Technology
  • Agrotechnology
  • Forestry

With FISIP USU striving for international accreditation, this benchmarking visit is expected to enhance the faculty’s readiness and alignment with global education standards.