Delegates of the Workshop on Quality Assurance Guidelines for Micro-credentials.
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Maejo University (MJU) jointly organized the Workshop on Quality Assurance Guidelines for Micro-credentials on 28–29 October 2024 in Bali, Indonesia. The event marked a significant step in advancing educational innovation in the region through the ERASMUS+-funded program on Postgraduate Micro-credentials in Food Security and Climate Change (PMC FSCC).
Participants in the workshop collaborated to develop and finalize guidelines ensuring robust quality assurance (QA) for micro-credentials, positioning them as flexible learning pathways to address critical challenges like food security and climate change. The workshop gathered representatives from institutions, including Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), UGM, and Universitas Brawijaya (UB) from Indonesia; Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM); MJU and Kasetsart University (KU) from Thailand; and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Central Luzon State University (CLSU), and Visayas State University (VSU) from the Philippines.
KU serves as the PMC FSCC project leader, while SEARCA provides coordination support as Secretariat to the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC).
Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, Vice-Rector for Education and Learning at UGM, delivered the opening remarks.
The two-day workshop offered a platform for in-depth discussions on the responsibilities and qualifications of QA teams tasked with maintaining the integrity of micro-credential programs. In her opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, Vice-Rector for Education and Learning at UGM, emphasized the urgency of equipping future leaders with skills to tackle food security and climate challenges through innovative educational frameworks. "Flexible learning pathways, like micro-credentials, are key to empowering the next generation to lead sustainable development," she said.
(L-R) Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buncha Chinnasri, Dr. Ir. Hatma Suryatmojo, and Dr. Irwan Endrayanto Aluicius during the workshop’s plenary discussions.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buncha Chinnasri, overall project coordinator for the PMC FSCC and SEARCA Adjunct Fellow, provided a background of the project, the status of its events and deliverables, as well as the upcoming activities that must be accomplished. Dr. Ir. Hatma Suryatmojo, Director of the Directorate for Academic Research and Innovation and UC Coordinator for UGM, recapped the first output of Work Package 3 (WP3), which was generated from the Workshop on Harmonizing University Policies conducted in May 2024 at SEARCA, Los Banos, Laguna, while Dr. Irwan Endrayanto Aluicius, Head of the Sub-Directorate for Academic Research, Directorate for Academic Research and Innovation, shared the results of a recent survey on QA in online education and micro-credentials. Their findings served as a foundation for the workshop's discussions. Dr. Harry Freitag Luglio Muhammad, Manager of UGM Online, and Dr. Prakash Bhuyar, Assistant Dean, International College, Maejo University, led focused group discussions (FGDs) during the first day of the workshop.
Dr. Harry Freitag Luglio Muhammad and Dr. Prakash Bhuyar led the breakout sessions.
On the second day, the participants focused on finalizing and collectively agreeing on the guidelines drafted during the first day. In his closing remarks, Prof. Ir. Dr. Budi Guntoro, Dean of the Faculty of Animal Sciences and UC Executive Officer at UGM, stressed the importance of quality assurance as a continuous process that underpins meaningful educational experiences. "QA is not just a phase; it is a dynamic cycle that supports our mission to make micro-credentials a valuable asset in addressing food security and climate change," he noted.
Prof. Ir. Dr. Budi Guntoro, Dean of the Faculty of Animal Sciences and UC Executive Officer at UGM, during the closing program.
Dr. Nur Azura Binti Adam, SEARCA's Deputy Director for Programs, commended the participants for their collaborative spirit and highlighted the importance of sharing the workshop's outcomes within their respective institutions to ensure alignment and sustainability. "The road ahead is crucial, and the coming months will involve intensive work toward further deliverables," she added.
Delegates during the cultural activities organized by UGM.
UGM organized a cultural trip on the final afternoon as part of the event. Participants visited the Sukawati Art Market and Puseh Temple and enjoyed the iconic Kecak Dance performance.
The PMC FSCC project, which runs from 2023 to 2026, aims to offer micro-credential-based short courses focused on food security and climate change. By leveraging technology, the program will deliver online learning modules tailored to address these pressing global challenges.