Padang – The Graduate School (SPs) of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) and the West Sumatra Provincial Education Office officially signed an Implementation Agreement (IA) to strengthen their collaboration in the development of educational human resources. The agreement was signed at Suasso Restaurant, Padang, by the Director of the Graduate School, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO., and the Head of the West Sumatra Provincial Education Office, Habibul Fuadi, S.Pd., M.Si.

The agreement represents a strategic step in strengthening collaboration between higher education institutions and local government to enhance the competencies of teachers and educational personnel in West Sumatra Province. Through the implementation of various academic programmes, particularly the Distance Learning (PJJ) programme, both institutions are committed to providing high-quality and flexible graduate education that enables teachers to continue their studies without leaving their professional responsibilities at school.

In his remarks, Habibul Fuadi explained that the West Sumatra Provincial Government is currently developing several strategic initiatives as part of its regional transformation agenda. One of the proposed initiatives is an international conference involving provinces and regions along the Indian Ocean, both within Indonesia and abroad, as a platform for collaboration in optimising regional potential.

He noted that, given the province's fiscal limitations, regional development cannot rely solely on expanding new programmes. Instead, greater emphasis should be placed on maximising West Sumatra's existing strengths, including its rich cultural heritage, the quality of its human resources, and the extensive network of Minangkabau professionals and communities across Indonesia and overseas.

"We cannot continue expanding programmes indefinitely, as regional financial resources are limited. What we need to do is maximise the potential we already have, including strengthening collaboration with Minangkabau professionals who have the expertise and commitment to contribute to the development of West Sumatra," said Habibul Fuadi.

He further highlighted that many prominent national figures from West Sumatra, including Prof. Fasli Jalal, possess valuable expertise that could contribute to strengthening education, improving literacy, and enhancing human resource development. He also noted that although students in West Sumatra continue to achieve Academic Competency Test (TKA) results above the national average, improving teachers' competencies remains a priority to meet the province's educational aspirations.

One of the longstanding challenges, he explained, has been the limited opportunities for teachers to pursue further education due to study permit requirements that often require them to leave their teaching duties. According to him, the Graduate School's Distance Learning (PJJ) programme offers an effective solution to this challenge.

"The Distance Learning (PJJ) programme enables teachers to continue their education without having to leave their teaching responsibilities. This allows them to improve their academic qualifications while continuing to fulfil their professional duties as educators," he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Graduate School, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, expressed his appreciation for the trust placed in the Graduate School by the West Sumatra Provincial Education Office. He stated that the signing of the Implementation Agreement reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality graduate education while supporting the continuous professional development of teachers.

"The Graduate School is committed to providing graduate education that is high in quality, flexible, and responsive to the needs of society. Through the Distance Learning (PJJ) programme, we hope more teachers will have the opportunity to enhance their academic qualifications without having to leave their professional responsibilities as educators," said Prof. Siswantoyo.

He added that the Graduate School continues to develop academic programmes that respond to advances in science, technology, and the evolving needs of the education sector. The Distance Learning (PJJ) programme represents one of the institution's key innovations, offering flexible learning while maintaining the academic standards of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta.

Through the Implementation Agreement, both institutions agreed to strengthen collaboration in a wide range of areas, including the implementation of the Distance Learning (PJJ) programme, improving teachers' academic qualifications, professional training and capacity development for educators, research, community engagement, and other strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of education in West Sumatra Province.

This partnership is expected to provide a strong foundation for developing highly qualified educational human resources who are adaptable to technological advancements and well prepared to address future educational challenges. The collaboration between the Graduate School and the West Sumatra Provincial Education Office also reflects their shared commitment to expanding access to higher education while contributing to the continuous improvement of education in Indonesia.