The Independent Accreditation Agency for Natural Sciences and Formal Sciences (LAMSAMA) conducted an on-site Accreditation Sufficiency Assessment (AK) to expedite the accreditation process for various academic programs. The event, which took place over three days starting Thursday, November 7, in Surabaya, also addressed the importance of ethics codes and the role of assessors in maintaining the credibility of the accreditation process, along with preparing accreditation instruments in accordance with international standards.

The on-site AK event, organized by LAMSAMA, was attended by assessors from various higher education institutions across Indonesia. One of the key topics discussed was aligning the assessors’ perspectives as a concrete step to improve the quality of human resources within LAMSAMA. Dr. Dra. Melania Suweni Muntini, M.T., emphasized the importance of aligning the assessors’ perspectives, particularly in relation to their crucial role in upholding the institution’s vision and mission.

“Aligning the perspectives of the assessors is crucial because they play a key role as representatives of the institution’s vision, and therefore, a shared understanding is necessary,” said Dr. Melania.

In addition, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Drs. Ir. Mitra Djamal, IPU, delivered a lecture on the importance of ethics in assessments, stressing that assessors must prioritize ethics and professionalism in every interaction with institutions. According to Prof. Mitra, assessors must also possess good soft skills to effectively communicate assessment results.

“An assessor’s actions must comply with the standards applicable across all regions without discrimination, while understanding that local customs and cultures may differ,” emphasized Prof. Mitra.

During the same event, LAMSAMA also held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Developing Accreditation Matrix for Internationally Equivalent Accreditation. Prof. Drs. Roto, M.Eng., Ph.D., highlighted the importance of developing accreditation instruments for academic programs that align with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Regulation No. 53 of 2023.

“Academic programs need to obtain operational permits according to the Ministry’s regulation as an initial step before developing accreditation instruments that meet international needs,” said Prof. Roto.

The on-site AK assessment also covered LAMSAMA’s latest accreditation policies, with plans for implementation by August 2025. According to an official letter from LAMSAMA No. 05/LAMSAMA/X/2024, academic programs whose accreditation period ends between January 1 and December 31, 2026, are encouraged to submit accreditation proposal documents using the previous instrument (IAPS 1.0) by February 28, 2025.

This on-site Accreditation Sufficiency Assessment represents a strategic step by LAMSAMA to accelerate the accreditation process and raise accreditation standards in Indonesia, aiming for international recognition. With expert speakers in attendance, the event is expected to strengthen the credibility of assessors and enhance the quality of accreditation across all programs under LAMSAMA’s jurisdiction.