A total of 110 study programs within the scope of Makassar State University (UNM) cooperate with SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMOLEC). The cooperation was marked by the Submission of the UNM – SEAMOLEC MOU and the Signing of a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) of both parties.
SEAMEO SEAMOLEC is an institution under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) or the Organization of Education Ministers in Southeast Asia responsible for developing open education and distance education in Southeast Asia.
Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs, Prof. Hasnawi Haris, revealed that this cooperation was the first time that this cooperation was carried out institutionally by involving 110 Study Programs with International institutions.Out of 5 programs conducted by SEAMOLEC, UNM chose to focus on the third program, namely increasing mentoring and online learning development.
"How our prodi partnership is encouraged to cooperate with international institutions, this is the first time there are 110 cooperation agreements that we do institutionally, from 5 programs that are the concentration of online learning development by SEAMOLEC we chose the third, namely increasing mentoring and online learning development, this is part of increasing the capacity of friends and all this financing is financed by SEAMOLEC, "Obviously.
Director of SEAMOLEC, R. Alpha Amirrachman, M.Phil., Ph. D., said this cooperation is part of the establishment of educational institutions developing Open Education and Distance Education in Southeast Asia. Based on analysis and predictions after the pandemic, PJJ patterns in some aspects will continue to be done because they are able to provide efficiency and effectiveness in academic activities.
"We partnered with various educational institutions to help with mentoring, maybe before the distance education pandemic (PJJ) it looks not too urgent but after this pandemic we have no choice to develop it, based on analysis and predictions after the pandemic that PJJ patterns in certain degrees will continue to be carried out, because in terms of effectiveness and efficiency helps the wheels of academic and organizational activities, "He said.
Meanwhile, rector of UNM Prof. Husayn Sham, appreciated this. According to him, this cooperation will continue to be encouraged and not continued.
"I certainly appreciate because we have all done a very good step, I think this cooperation is something that we always encourage and follow up so that this is not just an MoU but we can benefit from this cooperation"
Furthermore, Prof. Husain Sham explained that this cooperation is in line with the program that has been carried out by UNM both before and during the pandemic, before the PANDEMIC UNM has built ICT infrastructure and made the policy of each lecturer must design learning 70% offline and 30% online.
"We are not responsible for spending money on our ICT infrastructure affairs, besides that before the pandemic I have issued a policy every lecturer must design learning 70% offline and 30% online so that it fits the pandemic when full online we are not surprised because we have prepared everything, I think this cooperation sends UNM to be more global," he concluded.