The Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (GS UNY) received a benchmarking visit from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) on Thursday, October 2nd, 2025. The delegation, led by the Vice Dean of FKIP UMS along with six team members, was welcomed by the leadership of SPs UNY in the Leadership Meeting Room, the 2nd Floor of the Imam Barnadib Building.

The visit aimed to strengthen academic collaboration through benchmarking as well as a workshop on the implementation of Distance Education Programs (PJJ). During the agenda, both parties discussed various aspects of managing distance education programs, ranging from curriculum and digital-based learning systems to supporting facilities and quality assurance strategies.

Director of GS UNY, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO., stated that this meeting was an important momentum to share experiences and broaden academic networks. “We welcome the initiative of FKIP UMS to discuss the development of distance education. We hope this collaboration can make a real contribution to improving the quality of higher education in Indonesia,” he said.

In addition to the leadership of SPs UNY, the meeting also involved the Vice Director for Academic, Student Affairs, Research, and Cooperation (AKRK), the Vice Director for Business Development and Cooperation (PUK), the Head of the Distance Education Laboratory, and the Coordinator of the International Affairs and Cooperation Unit of GS UNY.

To conclude the series of activities, the FKIP UMS delegation was invited to visit the GS UNY Distance Education Laboratory. The field visit provided a direct overview of the facilities and infrastructure used to support distance learning, including the technology and academic service innovations that have been implemented.

Through this activity, GS UNY and FKIP UMS reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening synergy in implementing innovative learning, particularly in addressing the challenges of education in the digital era. (LS/YS)