Yogyakarta – The Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (SPs UNY) welcomed a benchmarking visit from the Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Makassar (PPs UNM) on Friday, September 25, 2026. Held at the Hall on the 3rd Floor of the Sugeng Mardiyono Building, the event served as a forum for exchanging experiences and best practices in postgraduate education management, particularly in institutional governance, human resource development, academic services, and administrative system strengthening.

The delegation of 13 representatives from PPs UNM was led by Makhrunnisa, S.E., M.M., Head of the Subdivision, and was welcomed by the Director of SPs UNY, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO., together with the Vice Director for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Research, and Cooperation, Prof. Dr. Dyah Kumalasari, M.Pd., and the Vice Director for Planning, General Affairs, and Finance, Prof. Dr. Yudanto, M.Pd. Also in attendance were members of the SPs UNY management team and educational support staff.

In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Siswantoyo stated that UNY and UNM share close academic ties that provide an important foundation for strengthening inter-institutional cooperation. He expressed hope that the visit would open up broader opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration, including the exchange of experiences and human resource capacity development at both universities.

Representing PPs UNM, Makhrunnisa explained that the visit was intended not only to strengthen institutional relations but also to provide an opportunity to learn about postgraduate management practices at SPs UNY. Key areas of interest included the implementation of education, research, and community service, as well as the management of lecturers, educational support staff, finances, and library services.

During the presentation session, SPs UNY introduced its institutional development, from its establishment in 1981 to its transformation toward becoming a Cyber Graduate School. This transformation encompasses strengthening governance, developing human resources, optimizing digital technology, and expanding international academic networks.

One of the practices shared was the strategy for human resource development through assigning lecturers according to study program needs and enhancing the competencies of educational support staff. SPs UNY also encourages each study program to optimize the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education—education, research, and community service—and expand international collaboration. One initiative introduced was the establishment of the Asian Graduate School Association Networks (AGSAN), a platform for strengthening networks among postgraduate institutions across Asia.

The discussion continued with the Vice Director for Planning, General Affairs, and Finance, Prof. Dr. Yudanto, M.Pd. During this session, both institutions exchanged experiences on various operational and postgraduate management matters, including lecturer recruitment systems, financial management, career development for educational support staff, and the implementation of distance learning programs (PJJ).

Regarding lecturer management, SPs UNY shared its experience in developing home-base lecturers, a process that began in 2025 through the recruitment scheme for state universities with legal entity status (PTN-BH). The discussion also covered career development and functional academic positions as part of ongoing efforts to improve human resource quality.

Service digitalization was another key focus of the benchmarking visit. SPs UNY introduced the use of its e-service system to support administrative services, along with integrated library services that enable students to access various reference materials in both print and digital formats. The management of students’ scholarly work, including theses and dissertations, was also discussed in relation to strengthening technology-based academic services.

The exchange of experiences provided both institutions with an opportunity to explore different approaches to postgraduate education management in accordance with their respective characteristics and needs. Through interactive discussions, participants were able to identify best practices that could serve as references for developing governance systems, improving service quality, and strengthening institutional capacity.

The benchmarking visit is expected to mark the beginning of closer collaboration between SPs UNY and PPs UNM. Beyond strengthening institutional relations, the activity reflects both universities’ commitment to continuously improving the quality of postgraduate education through knowledge exchange, human resource development, and governance innovations that adapt to the evolving higher education landscape.