UNAIR NEWS – On Friday, January 6, 2023, an offline Freedom of Learning Independent Campus (MBKM) discussion took place with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, attended by 150 representatives from 15 universities in Indonesia. The participants were from North Sulawesi, rectors, lecturers, MBKM alumni, and Independent Student Exchange participants (PMM) 2 of De La Salle Catholic University Manado.

At Manado State University, the representative of PMM 2 of De La Salle Catholic University Manado from UNAIR, Maissy Ar Maghfiroh, revealed several topics being discussed.

Maissy revealed that the MBKM program was discussed during the meeting, input from students for the MBKM program, experiences in participating in the MBKM, and questions about the MBKM that were felt unclear.

In the dialogue, the Minister of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Nadiem Makarim, BA, MBA, was the main speaker. “Being in the MBKM program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so don’t let it be neglected. The challenge must be faced head on, “said Maissy.

There is a minimum semester for students wishing to participate in the program: semester five. According to Nadiem, first and second year students are still exploring their skills, interests, and talents.

“For students, don’t give up easily in registering and undergoing the MBKM program because the experience gained is not just ordinary experience. Students can develop several aspects in terms of character, self-confidence, communication skills, and getting out of the comfort zone because these aspects are very difficult to simulate on campus,” said Nadiem in the meeting.

It didn’t stop there, Nadiem also opened up opportunities for the audience to voice suggestions for better MBKM in the future. Not wasting the opportunity, Maissy expressed her opinion regarding some obstacles experienced by PMM 2 students, the class schedules at the home campus coincided with the schedule at the destination campus.

“It would be nice for students to be required to take all courses on the destination campus to get the most out of the teaching and learning activities, and PMM should tell what courses students can take on the PMM destination campus before the PMM program is started, and the courses offered must be in accordance with reality when courses planning,” Maissy suggested.

In this regard, Nadiem agrees with Maissy’s suggestion. “Currently, the Independent Campus is looking for ways to fully encourage students to take all available credits at the destination campus,” he concluded. (*)

Author: Leivina Ariani Sugiharto Putri

Editor  : Binti Q. Masruroh