CURRICULUM MERDEKA

What is ‘’Merdeka Belajar’’ ?

According to Nadiem Makarim, the Minister of Education and Culture, ‘Merdeka Belajar” is a concept of study that gives freedom and autonomy to educational institutions from bureaucratization, where lecturers were freed from complicated bureaucracies and students were given the freedom to choose their preferred fields.

What is ‘’Kampus Merdeka’’ ?

The “Kampus Merdeka” policy, launched in January 2020 by the Minister of Education and Culture, Nadiem Makarim, provides a milestone for changes to the higher education system in this country. This policy is stated as a continuation of the previously stated policy, which is Merdeka Belajar.

“Kampus Merdeka” is the policy of the Minister of Education and Culture, which aims to encourage students to master various useful disciplines to enter the work world. The “Kampus Merdeka” curriculum provides an opportunity for students to choose the courses they want. The concept of independent learning certainly aims to provide flexibility for students to study outside of campus. This concept continues to be developed by the Ministry of Education and Culture as an effort to get better quality of the future leaders. This is an implementation of President Joko Widodo's vision and mission to create superior human resources.

There are four main policies related to this Kampus Merdeka curriculum, such as:

Converting a satker PTN into a BH PTN

According to the Ministry of Education and Culture's policy concerning the implementation of an independent campus, it is to change the PTN satker to later become PTN BH. PTN satker is a state university with the status of a work unit in which there are public services available. This change was made by changing the PTN satker to PTN BH (state university with legal entity strength).

There is a simplification in university accreditation

This policy is related to the re-accreditation program which is automatic for all ranks and is also voluntary for universities. Basically, in implementing an independent campus, in the future accreditation will remain valid for five years and can be renewed automatically. The existence of accreditation A will be given to each university that will able to succeed in getting international accreditation.

Opening a new study program

Nadiem Makarim sets other policies that will be assigned to each university, either PTN or PTS. This policy is related to the autonomy for each university, whether PTN or PTS to open or establish a new study program. Autonomy for the establishment of a new study program will be granted if a PTN or PTS has accreditation A or B.

There are two-semester outside campus activities

Outside campus activities can be done with a variety of things ranging from internships or practices in an organization and based on the Learning Guide Book - Kampus Merdeka issued by the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture 2020, 8 alternatives can be chosen by students that become students' rights. There are:

Student exchange with full credit transfer. This activity is in the form of cross-study or even cross-campus learning activities.
Internships or work practices. This activity has been carried out by many universities with different portions or approaches. This program is implemented with 1 to 2 semesters of internship or practical work in industry or the world of work for students.
Teaching assistance in the education unit. This activity takes the form of teaching assistance in learning units on SD / MI, SMP / MTS, or SMA / MA / SMK levels.
Research. This activity is in the form of research at certain research institutions according to the student's area of interest.
Humanitarian project. University, assistance for many disaster management activities in general voluntary and temporary. The participation of students in the management of humanitarian projects will also provide different field experiences and experiences in organizational management of humanitarian projects.
Entrepreneurial activities. Entrepreneurial activities are expected able to develop students' interests and talents in the entrepreneurial field with more intensive and directed guidance. Of course, this entrepreneurial activity is expected to produce young, educated entrepreneurs with a touch of science and technology in their business content.
Independent study or project. This activity facilitates students who have ideas or ideas to be developed into creative and productive works.
Build a real village or college work. This activity has long been carried out by many universities. Some KKNs are compulsory courses but some are just elective courses. The new pattern that is widely used is thematic KKN or community empowerment KKN or entrepreneurial KKN or other forms.

Those four policies basically, will encourage success in the implementation of the curriculum “Kampus Merdeka” that is applied. All parties certainly need to support the implementation of an independent campus and help students to be better prepared to become superior human resources.