On November 6, 2024, the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) at the Universitas Indonesia (UI) welcomed a benchmarking visit from the student affairs department of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at the University of Jambi. The meeting took place in the Meeting Room of Building A, 3rd Floor, Health Science Cluster at UI. The visit aimed to share experiences regarding FPH UI’s efforts in building a student affairs system with integrity and in accordance with national standards. Present at the meeting were Dien Anshari, S.Sos., M.Si., Ph.D., the Student Affairs Manager at FPH UI; Fitrya Nuraini, S.K.M., the Student Affairs Coordinator at FPH UI; and Adi Putranto, S.E., the Coordinator of the Cooperation Unit, Alumni Relations, and Ventures at FPH UI.
Dr. Ummi Kalsum, S.K.M., M.K.M., Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Alumni at FMHS, University of Jambi, stated, “Currently, FMHS is striving to improve performance, transparency, and accountability in public services to achieve the WBK and WBBM status. We chose FPH UI as a benchmarking site due to its recognized achievements in implementing the Integrity Zone, especially in the student affairs sector,” said Dr. Ummi Kalsum. Meanwhile, Dien Anshari, S.Sos., M.Si., Ph.D., the Student Affairs Manager at FPH UI, said, “FPH UI warmly welcomes the visit from FMHS, University of Jambi. We hope that this comparative study can provide insights and inspiration for implementing the Integrity Zone at FMHS, especially in improving performance, transparency, and accountability in student affairs.”
Dr. Dien elaborated on the comprehensive student affairs services at FPH UI that support the development of student potential in various aspects. “We conduct monitoring and evaluation of 17 student organizations, including MPM, BEM, and student associations for each study program,” explained Dr. Dien, emphasizing the importance of optimal management of student organizations. Additionally, FPH UI provides various facilities to support student activities at both the faculty and university levels. “We also simplify student administration, including services for issuing letters through the web portal, active student certificates, scholarship recommendation letters, and capacity-building certificates,” he added.
Beyond administrative services, the student affairs unit at FPH UI prioritizes soft skills training, including leadership, entrepreneurship, and capacity-building development. According to Dr. Dien, FPH UI actively provides funding for students participating in various events, “We offer funding support for competitions and conferences at national to international levels, in fields such as science, arts, culture, and sports.” Counseling services are also available through collaboration with the UI Satellite Clinic, providing students with robust mental health support. Furthermore, FPH UI encourages students to act as brand ambassadors, promoting the faculty and Indonesia at the national and global stages. “This support is also reinforced through collaboration with academic units, partnerships, ventures, and the alumni organization at FPH UI,” said Fitrya Nuraini, S.K.M., the Student Affairs Coordinator at FPH UI, emphasizing the importance of synergy between students, alumni, and the faculty in creating an inclusive and productive learning environment.
Adi Putranto, S.E., the Coordinator of the Cooperation Unit, Alumni Relations, and Ventures at FPH UI, explained how the Alumni Association of the University of Indonesia (ILUNI UI) remains an essential part of the student affairs programs at FPH UI. “ILUNI UI is very active in supporting our various programs, especially in terms of student capacity-building, through mentoring, seminars, and networking support,” said Adi Putranto, S.E. According to him, the involvement of alumni directly serves as an important bridge between the academic world and the professional world, providing students with access to practical experience and a strong network.
ILUNI UI also participates in scholarship funding, event support, and helps open internship or job opportunities for students. “We at FPH UI believe that alumni involvement has a significant impact on students’ motivation to excel and develop their careers,” added Adi, who views the partnership with ILUNI UI as one of the pillars for creating a dynamic student affairs ecosystem that supports FPH UI’s long-term goals.
As one of the holders of the Integrity Zone designation in higher education, FPH UI continues to demonstrate its commitment to building a culture of academic excellence, transparency, and accountability. The comparative study visit from FMHS, University of Jambi, acknowledged FPH UI’s achievements and reaffirmed the importance of cross-institutional synergy to strengthen integrity and public service at universities. It is hoped that this step will open further collaborations and inspire other educational institutions to create a better and higher-quality future. (DFD)