Yogyakarta, May 19th 2025 – Dr.rer.nat. Ir. R. Wahyu Supartono, Chief of the Higher Education Management Master Program (MMPT) Graduate School (SPs) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), conducted a return visit to the University of Applied Science Osnabrueck (UASO) from May 5th -7th. This visit was a follow-up to an invitation from Prof. Dr. Peter Mayer, coordinator of the International Dean Course supported by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), who is also a long-standing partner and resource person for the MMPT SPs UGM program. The main discussion during the visit focused on the potential for strengthening collaboration in the field of higher education management. UASO is a member of the MARIHE (Master in Research and Innovation in Higher Education) master’s program consortium, which includes leading universities in Europe and Asia.
Dr. Wahyu Supartono’s first meeting was with Alexander Rupp, Program Coordinator of Higher Education and Research Management at UASO. An in-depth discussion was held regarding the MARIHE program and the International MBA program managed by the faculty. Rupp had previously met Dr. Wahyu Supartono at the International Dean Course in Yogyakarta in 2017. The main agenda of this meeting was to discuss the implementation of the MARIHE program at UASO, with a specific focus on the concentration of Leadership in Higher Education. The potential for collaboration in the MBA program, including a joint degree program with the Faculty of Economics and Business UGM, was also a topic of discussion. UASO also offers an interesting non-degree program on leadership in higher education.
Dr. Wahyu Supartono also met with representatives of the International Office UASO, namely Sabine Kohlsaat and Nathalie Banehr. This meeting aimed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of internationalization activities at the faculty level and the admission system for international students at UASO. Various internationalization initiatives undertaken by the faculty were presented, including student mobility programs, invitations to international guest lecturers for Block-Week teaching formats, and preparations for international accreditation through the European FMD agency. The faculty also has a unique program called “Schnuepfer Woche for High School” which aims to attract high school students to pursue bachelor’s degrees at UASO. The international office plays a crucial role in supporting international students and facilitating internationalization activities for faculty members.
Valuable insights into the study experience at UASO were gained by Dr. Wahyu Supartono through an informal meeting with UGM-UASO joint-degree students, namely Arthia and Filzda, and also a Muenster University alumna who now works at the International Office UASO, Gita Lestari. This relaxed discussion covered various academic and non-academic aspects of studying in Osnabrueck. Information regarding accommodation, transportation, and significant differences in the thesis writing process in the MBA UASO program were interesting topics. MBA students at UASO have a relatively short period of four months to complete their thesis with an emphasis on secondary data and a different examination process compared to the system in Indonesia.
Inspirational experiences were also gained by Dr. Wahyu Supartono during a meeting with a MARIHE program alumna from Uzbekistan, Natalya Sharovatova. Natalya shared her experiences participating in this multidisciplinary program, which provided her with the opportunity to study in Austria, Finland, intern in India, and complete her thesis in Osnabrueck. Her choice to focus on UASO was based on the university’s excellence in the field of leadership in higher education. She also explained the benefits of the full scholarship from the Erasmus Mundus program and the long-term support received by the MARIHE program. Interactive learning methods through group work and case studies, as well as the presence of guest lecturers with strategic experience in higher education, were also discussed. Currently, Natalya works on the FAITH project, which focuses on the development of higher education in Ethiopia.
Beyond his visit to UASO, Dr. Wahyu Supartono also held an important meeting in Bayreuth with staff from the accreditation agency ACQUIN, namely Dr. Jasmine Rudolph (Head of International Department) and Dr. Michael Bayer (national and international assessor). This visit to the ACQUIN headquarters aimed to build closer relationships in anticipation of the visitation process at Universitas Gadjah Mada. Informal discussions were held regarding the profile of UGM, its faculties, and study programs that will be accredited by ACQUIN in 2025. ACQUIN leaders provided valuable tips regarding the preparation of an effective Self-Assessment Report (SAR), emphasizing the importance of honesty and an accurate portrayal of the study program’s potential. ACQUIN’s extensive experience with various universities in Indonesia was also a beneficial topic of discussion.
Dr.rer.nat. Ir. R. Wahyu Supartono visit is expected to strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation between MMPT UGM and UASO, as well as provide valuable insights for the development of MMPT Program and the internationalization initiatives of higher education at Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Author: Berlian Belasuni