Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Maejo University (MJU) successfully organized a workshop on Quality Assurance Guidelines for Micro-Credentials held on October 28-29, 2024, in Bali, Indonesia. This event is part of the ERASMUS+-funded project on Postgraduate Micro-Credentials for Food Security and Climate Change (PMC FSCC). The workshop aimed to discuss and formulate effective guidelines for developing micro-credentials in response to global challenges related to food security and climate change.
The event was attended by project members from various institutions, including UGM, IPB University and Universitas Brawijaya in Indonesia, as well as Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Putra Malaysia in Malaysia. Additionally, Maejo University (MJU) and Kasetsart University from Thailand, along with the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Central Luzon State University, and Visayas State University from the Philippines, participated. By involving experts and stakeholders from universities across different countries, this forum aimed to develop and agree upon quality assurance guidelines to be used for micro-credentials, ensuring that higher education remains relevant and adaptive to future needs. In this forum, KU served as the project leader for PMC FSCC, while SEARCA acted as the secretariat providing coordination support for the Southeast Asian University Consortium for Graduate Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC).
Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA, Vice-Rector for Education and Learning at UGM, emphasized the importance of preparing future leaders with relevant skills to tackle these challenges. She stated, “Integrating flexible learning pathways, such as micro-credentials, is key to equipping the next generation with the skills they need to drive sustainable development,” during her opening remarks at the event(28/10).
In the workshop session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Buncha Chinnasri, the PMC FSCC project coordinator, provided an overview of the project’s background as well as the status of activities and results achieved so far. Dr. Agr.Sc. Ir. Hatma Suryatmojo, S.Hut., M.Si., IPU, ASEAN Eng., Director of the Directorate for Academic Innovation and Studies at UGM, shared the results from Work Package 3 (WP3) obtained from the Workshop on Harmonizing University Policies held in May 2024. Meanwhile, Dr. Irwan Endrayanto Aluicius, S.Si., M.Sc., Head of the Academic Research Sub-Directorate, explained the findings from a recent survey on quality assurance in online education and micro-credentials, which served as the foundation for discussions at this workshop.
Over the two days, participants focused on drafting the quality assurance guidelines for micro-credentials, with one of the expected outcomes being the initial formulation of QA guidelines to be implemented at participating universities. These guidelines are intended to serve as a reference for implementing quality assurance for online courses and micro-credentials, taking into account the needs and characteristics of each university. Additionally, a final draft is expected to integrate inputs from expert discussions and group activities.
“The next steps are crucial, and the coming months will involve intensive work towards achieving further outcomes,” stated Dr. Nur Azura binti Adam, Deputy Director for Programs at SEARCA, as she praised participants for their collaborative spirit and emphasized the importance of disseminating the workshop’s results within their respective institutions to ensure sustainability.
The event concluded with remarks from Prof. Ir. Budi Guntoro, S.Pt., M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU, ASEAN Eng., the WP 3 Coordinator, who invited all participants to reflect on the achievements made together. “Quality assurance is not just a phase; it is a dynamic cycle that underpins our commitment to creating meaningful educational experiences in food security and climate change,” he remarked during the closing session.
The PMC FSCC project, which runs from 2023 to 2026, aims to offer short courses based on micro-credentials focused on food security and climate change. By leveraging technology, the program will provide online learning modules designed to address global challenges. Through this initiative, there is a commitment to continuously contribute to creating relevant and innovative educational solutions in the fields of food security and climate change.