UNAIR NEWS – Every student desires an enjoyable and memorable university experience. Typically, during their studies, students develop themselves according to their interests and talents. Many immerse themselves in organizations, research, and internships, and even contribute to humanitarian missions, enhancing their overall university experience.

All of these self-development activities are now accommodated in the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM – meaning freedom to learn, emancipated campus), an initiative by the Ministry of Education and Culture that is sought after by every university student.

Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), as one of the state universities, is fully committed to supporting MBKM. There are various MBKM programs that students can choose and participate in for self-development. What are the MBKM programs offered at UNAIR?

Flagship programs

Director of Academic Affairs Prof Dr Sukardiman, MS Apt named 8 types of MBKM program in UNAIR. One of the most popular MBKM programs among students is MSIB (Certified Internship and Independent Study). “MSIB is the most popular one. Alhamdulillah, our target is 30 percent of the total eligible students for MBKM. However, our achievement exceeds 33 percent, which means there is almost an increasing trend every year,” he told UNAIR NEWS on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

In MSIB, students can explore the professional world in various companies and government agencies. They will gain multiple benefits, ranging from work experience, and new networks, to the opportunity to get hired.

Another sought-after MBKM program is the student exchange program, which is categorized into two types: the Domestic Student Exchange (PMM) and the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) for overseas exchanges. Participants in these programs are fully funded by the government and qualify for the conversion of academic credits.

Students who are interested in teaching can join the Kampus Mengajar, where they spend a semester teaching in elementary schools. They also get financial aid from the government.

In addition to those three programs, UNAIR provides research assistance, independent study, KKN-BBK (Community Service Program Learning with Community), humanitarian volunteer programs, and entrepreneurship. Detailed descriptions of each MBKM program are available at https://mbkm.unair.ac.id/.

All participants of the MBKM programs are entitled to the same benefit: they can earn up to a maximum of 40 semester credit units (SKS), equivalent to two semesters. Thus, students need not worry about extending their study period.

Abundant benefits for students

Prof Sukardiman believes that the MBKM program offers positive benefits, including acquiring new skills. Students learning outside their study programs will have a broader network with a more diverse scope. “If we look at the output, students who learn outside their study programs will acquire new skills,” he said.

Besides, students will also gain professional skills, improve their portfolio and gain experience. Therefore, participating in the MBKM program is akin to preparing oneself for future careers. “They will also have professional skills according to the knowledge they have acquired. So, there’s no need for job training because they already have work experience,” he asserted.

Author: Yulia Rohmawati

Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia