FKIP UMPR Earns National Praise for Academic Transformation

PALANGKA RAYA — FKIP UMPR won a national-level award for its progress in campus governance and teaching quality. The recognition came from the Association of Educators and Education Personnel of Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah Higher Education Institutions (ALPTK PTMA) during the 17th National Working Meeting and the 12th ProfunEdu International Conference in Bandar Lampung.

The award matters beyond the ceremony itself. It signals that a higher-education institution outside Java can compete at the national level, while also strengthening public trust in the quality of FKIP UMPR graduates in Central Kalimantan.

## Commitment to an Excellent Accreditation Target

ALPTK PTMA chairman Prof. Dr. Harun Joko Prayitno, M.Hum., said FKIP UMPR has shown strong progress as one of the driving forces of transformation within Muhammadiyah higher education.

“FKIP UMPR shows very good development. Its effort to improve accreditation toward Excellent through ISK, along with its success in opening postgraduate programs, proves a commitment to building higher education quality that is excellent and competitive,” Harun said on the sidelines of the event.

Harun added that quality improvement in teacher-training faculties is essential. He said FKIP UMPR’s work deserves to be used as a national reference for other campuses seeking better accreditation status and wider community impact.

The changes are not just administrative. They touch curriculum improvement, lecturer qualifications, and the wider learning ecosystem.

For Central Kalimantan, that matters a lot. The region still faces a familiar problem: uneven teacher quality, especially in remote areas. With a faculty that follows national standards, FKIP UMPR is expected to help narrow that gap.

## New Postgraduate Programs Open More Access

The FKIP UMPR delegation that accepted the award was led by Dean Hendri, M.Pd., accompanied by Vice Dean Agung Riadin, M.Pd. Their presence underscored the faculty’s growing standing in the national academic scene.

Hendri said the recognition was the result of collective work across the faculty. One of the key achievements acknowledged nationally was the launch of new postgraduate programs to support advanced research for teachers and education practitioners in Kalimantan.

“This recognition is the result of the hard work of the entire FKIP UMPR academic community. We will continue strengthening governance, improving academic quality, and expanding our contribution to producing professional educators and human resources,” Hendri said.

For teachers in Central Kalimantan, the new S2 and S3 programs reduce the need to travel to Java for higher study. That saves money, cuts travel time, and speeds up the push for better academic qualifications.

## Building Wider Academic Networks

Vice Dean Agung Riadin stressed the importance of active participation in global academic forums. He said events such as the ProfunEdu Conference give campuses a strategic space to exchange ideas on digital-based learning methods.

“Participation in international forums and the ALPTK PTMA working meeting is an important moment to expand academic partnerships, share best practices, and strengthen collaboration among Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah teacher-training institutions,” Agung said.

Through stronger networking, FKIP UMPR hopes its curriculum will stay adaptive to changing education demands and digital learning. The faculty also wants its graduates to be ready not only to work, but to lead change in the schools where they serve.

The next test is consistency. FKIP UMPR is now preparing to carry out the recommendations from the 17th working meeting to strengthen a collaborative research ecosystem across countries.