To implement the Merdeka Learning-Merdeka Campus (MBKM) program, the Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (FPTK UPI) and the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Jakarta (FT UNJ), as well as FPTK UPI and Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (FT UNY) conducted discussion of cooperation

On October 12 2020, initiated by UPI's Deputy Rector for Education and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Didi Sukyadi, M.A, the discussion on the cooperation held online through the Zoom Meeting. The event was attended by faculty leaders, heads of department, heads of the study program of each Educational Personnel Educational Institution (LPTK).

In his remarks, UNJ Deputy Rector IV for Planning and Cooperation, Dr. Totok Bintoro, M.Pd., stated that following up on the letter of the UPI Rector, in the context of establishing cooperation to implement MBKM, he was excited and welcomed this collaboration. "God willing, it will be conducted, especially with the new Main Work Indicators that we must fulfil in this collaboration, including three semesters outside the program of study (20 credits) in an exchange between tertiary institutions outside of the PERMATA SAKTI activities, partnerships between study programs. We will facilitate this cooperation so the good academic goals of improving the quality of the two nearby LPTKs between Jakarta and Bandung can be implemented, "he said.

On the same occasion, the Dean of FT UNJ, Dr. Uswatun Hasanah, M.Si said that he was very happy to collaborate with UPI, and would not waste this opportunity. He hopes there would be an agreement implementation because both UPI and UNJ are bound by performance contracts with the Ministry. “In this pandemic condition, we can send one class to exchange lecturers online. Hopefully, we can implement it. Several study programs have explored MBKM, just the implementation," he concluded.

Dean of UPI FPTK, Prof. Dr. Mokh Syaom Barliana, M.Pd., MT, in his remarks explained that following up on the implementation plan of the MBKM program, one of the superior programs of the ministry and has implications for University Performance Indicators. Besides the achievement of IKU, synergy and collaboration is one of the todays and future demands. Therefore, based on the initiative of the Deputy Rector for Education and Student Affairs at UPI, UPI will try to follow up at the Study Program level technically. At the 9th meeting, it is hoped that we can implement the exchange of lecturers, courses, and students. For the long term, exchange of students, lecturers, equalization through their respective academic systems, collaboration in research, potential thesis guidance that can be done because with an online system of guidance and testing can be done, cooperation is not only in courses but also thesis and final assignment guidance, "he concluded.

Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs FPTK UPI, Dr. Iwa Kuntadi, M.Pd., thanked the two LPTKs, FT UNJ and FT UNJ, responded well to this MBKM plan and idea. Hopefully, this program can run, it needs to be coordinated properly and discussions between the heads of study programs to immediately follow up this MBKM program.

UPI Deputy Rector for Education and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Didi Sukyadi, MA, thanked the Dean of FT UNY and FT UNJ who appreciated the activity and wanted to connect FPTK UPI and FT UNJ, as well as FPTK UPI and FT UNY to work together so our education would be better, students get the better the learning experience, and the better the soft skills. Hopefully, when students graduate, they can get a job faster and he also hopes that the activity would be recorded as IKU which is imposed by the ministry on each university.

We can have student exchanges this semester faster and at no cost, so the activities can be in the form of curriculum equivalents, preparation of cooperation POB, lecturer and student exchanges, joint research, joint publications, joint PKM, and joint learning, "he said.

"The exchange can be for short term and long term. As for the short term, it can be done in this semester. The students are taught by our lecturers first and for the next eight meetings can be taught by other university lecturers. When it takes place, the assessment is done at our partner university. The university only accepts the data assessment, but the ones who process the final score and enter it into the system are our respective lecturers, "he concluded.

"Alhamdulilah both have the desire to collaborate with other universities. UPI is one of our partners who have always worked together, we can make it real. It’s great," said the Dean of FT UNY, Prof. Herman Dwi Surjono, M.Sc., M.T., PhD. Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs and Cooperation, FT UNY, Prof. Ir. Moh. Khairudin, M.T., PhD, admitted that he was ready to carry out cooperation, what needed to be discussed was the technicalities.