On Thursday, 11 December 2025, the Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (GS UNY) welcomed a benchmarking visit from the Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Medan (GS UNIMED) at the Main Hall of GS UNY. The visit aimed to strengthen institutional collaboration while facilitating the exchange of experiences related to the implementation of Distance Learning (Pembelajaran Jarak Jauh/PJJ) programs.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from the Director of the Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO. In his address, he expressed appreciation for the visit by the GS UNIMED delegation and conveyed his hope that the discussion session would be conducted actively and provide mutual benefits for both institutions in developing effective distance learning governance.

Subsequently, the Director of the GS UNIMED, Prof. Dr. Budi Valianto, M.Pd., extended his gratitude for the warm reception from GS UNY. He then introduced the GS UNIMED delegation and outlined the main focus of the benchmarking visit, which included UNY’s response to Ministerial Regulation No. 39, the management of student cohorts for the 2024 and 2025 intakes, credit load arrangements, and GS UNY’s strategies in addressing challenges related to the implementation of distance learning programs.

The agenda continued with a comprehensive presentation by the Director of GS UNY on the implementation of Distance Learning, covering regulatory foundations, curriculum design, learning mechanisms, system support, and the utilization of digital technology to ensure the quality of academic services.

The discussion session proceeded in an interactive manner, with curriculum development and quality assurance emerging as key focal points. The Coordinator of the Doctoral Program of Educational Research and Evaluation, Prof. Dr. Edy Supriyadi, provided insights into the development of adaptive curricula that continue to uphold academic integrity. Meanwhile, the Quality Assurance Coordinator, Dr. Widowati Pusporini, responded to questions concerning quality assurance strategies, monitoring processes, and continuous evaluation in the delivery of distance learning programs.

The series of activities concluded with the signing of an Implementation Agreement (IA) as a formal commitment to cooperation between the two institutions in advancing graduate education.