Padang – The Graduate School (SPs) of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) continues to strengthen inter-university partnerships by sharing best practices in graduate education development. As part of this commitment, the Graduate School participated as a keynote speaker in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Strengthening Graduate Curriculum, organised by Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP) at the Senate Hall of the UNP Rectorate Building on Friday, July 17, 2026.

The Director of the Graduate School, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, S.Pd., M.Kes., AIFO., served as the keynote speaker at the event, which was attended by university leaders, coordinators of master's and doctoral programmes, curriculum development teams, and members of the Graduate School academic community at UNP.

The discussion was officially opened by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Alumni of UNP, Prof. Dr. Refnaldi, S.Pd., M.Litt., representing the Rector of Universitas Negeri Padang. In his opening remarks, he emphasised that graduate curriculum development must be continuously strengthened by incorporating perspectives and best practices from different universities to address the evolving landscape of higher education and the needs of society. He noted that the Graduate School of UNY's experience in developing outcome-based curricula and implementing Distance Learning (PJJ) programmes provides valuable insights for UNP as it seeks to enhance its graduate education services through more adaptive and innovative approaches.

In his presentation, Prof. Siswantoyo outlined various strategies adopted by the Graduate School in developing graduate curricula. One of the key aspects discussed was the design of curriculum structures aligned with both national standards and international trends. He explained that the master's and doctoral programmes at the Graduate School require between 40 and 44 credit units, carefully balancing compulsory courses, elective courses, and research activities. The curriculum is also designed to meet quality indicators required for both national and international accreditation.

Prof. Siswantoyo also shared the Graduate School's experience in implementing its Distance Learning (PJJ) programmes, covering every stage from planning and human resource preparation to learning system development and academic implementation. He emphasised that distance learning is not simply about transferring classroom activities to digital platforms, but rather about transforming the entire learning system while maintaining academic quality, meaningful lecturer-student interaction, and the achievement of intended learning outcomes.

The discussion session was highly interactive, with participants raising various questions regarding graduate education. One question came from Fitri Mudia Sari, S.Si., M.Si., Coordinator of the Biology Education Study Programme at UNP, who asked about the ideal balance between pedagogical courses and disciplinary content within teacher education curricula. In response, Prof. Siswantoyo explained that curriculum design should maintain an appropriate balance between subject-specific expertise and pedagogical competence, with the proportion determined by each programme's graduate profile and intended learning outcomes.

Participants also discussed several challenges facing graduate education, including strategies for attracting prospective students, administrative barriers encountered by civil servants seeking permission to pursue further studies, and concerns among prospective students about completing their programmes on time. These issues became the focus of a productive exchange of ideas aimed at identifying more flexible approaches to graduate education without compromising academic quality.

During the discussion, Prof. Dr. M. Zaim, M.Hum., Coordinator of the Doctoral Programme in Language Education at the Faculty of Languages and Arts, UNP, also raised questions regarding the distinctions between regular programmes, research-based programmes, and Distance Learning (PJJ) at the graduate level. Prof. Siswantoyo explained that while Distance Learning programmes uphold the same academic quality standards as regular programmes, they differ primarily in instructional delivery, the use of digital technologies, and learning interaction designs tailored to the needs of diverse student populations.

As a follow-up to the discussion, the Graduate School of UNY and the Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Padang signed a Cooperation Agreement to strengthen institutional collaboration. The agreement covers curriculum development, academic quality enhancement, collaborative research, scientific publications, human resource development, and the implementation of strategic initiatives in graduate education.

Through this engagement, the Graduate School of UNY once again reaffirmed its commitment to advancing higher education in Indonesia by fostering institutional collaboration, sharing best practices, and promoting innovative approaches to graduate education that support the continuous improvement of academic quality.