Quality Universities Need a Quality Supervisory System |
In the midst of various limitations, the Internal Monitoring Unit (SPI) of Malikussaleh University continues to improve the quality of higher education. SPI ensures that all activities run effectively and efficiently, especially in the non-academic section. "We want to guarantee that there are no problems in terms of finance, asset security, and human resources," said TM Ridwan, August 24, 2021.
As the head of the SPI who is the Rector's eye for supervision, this unit is the last door for Universitas Malikussalehto continue to exist as an institution that produces quality intellectual generations. The activities of review, evaluation, and monitoring are the duties of a quality guarantor, in addition to the duties of a consultant.
The existence of SPI is expected to be an added value because in addition to functioning as a supervisory unit, the institution is also the center of Unimal's internal control. SPI is part of the Government's Internal Control System (SPIP), which is an internal control system that is comprehensively implemented within the central and regional governments.
The legal basis is Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 60 of 2008 concerning Government Internal Control System. "Now it is no longer findings that we rely on, but with human resources and systems that are running, we can reduce findings," said TM Ridwan.
In terms of supervision, the role of SPI is actually bigger in the third section, which is the last line of defense before other parties carry out surveillance or audits. The three aspects of supervision are part of the management element that affects academic potential, where planning, implementation, and supervision.
According to TM Ridwan, SPI has a scope of supervision in the non-academic field in accordance with Article 28 point c of PP No. 4 of 2014 concerning the Implementation of Higher Education and Management of Higher Education. One element of the organization of higher education must have supervision, first non-academic and academic.
“This means that there must be internal control and quality assurance. These are two different things, the same in function but different in scope,” explained TM Ridwan.
Ridwan admits that there are still many obstacles in overseeing the three aspects due to various limitations such as human resources and the absence of a strong legal basis regarding the SPI structure. The institution he leads is still lacking in personnel.
Recruitment is also very difficult because even if there are additional personnel from the lecturers, it becomes a dilemma because there is no legal recognition that can be used for reporting lecturers, for example, the law for reporting Lecturer Workload (BKD), additional assignments, and so on. “The solution is to avoid mutations in the placement of HR in SPI. Officials who have been placed, trained to meet competence, are not expected to be transferred before there is regeneration," suggested TM Ridwan.
According to him, there is no doubt about the leadership's commitment to supervision, because the Chancellor of the Malikussaleh University is very aware that what SPI is doing is part of the leadership's interests. SPI also works based on the direction and orders of the Chancellor ofUniversitas Malikussaleh, Prof. Dr. Herman Fitra Asean Eng. "In the audit charter, there is a leadership commitment, that SPI may conduct regular reviews on non-academic activities," he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the implementation of internal control so that the realization of supervision is less than optimal. Coupled with the lack of personnel currently owned, some lecturers who were formerly part of the SPI were transferred to other places. Even though they have been trained in carrying out supervisory and auditing tasks.
Currently, SPI is in dire need of qualified human resources to carry out supervision. In the future, if new personnel are recruited, they must have high commitment and dedication to work optimally and be able to survive at least until there is regeneration.
If the Malikussaleh University management and governance system is good, then SPI will only accelerate all the realization of the rector's programs, because the leadership no longer thinks about the basic problems that have hindered the realization of the program.
"We, SPI work for the leadership, the Rector's eyes, yes, SPI," said Ridwan, who hoped that technology would also enter for the sake of efficiency and effectiveness of supervision.
Regarding Unimal's agenda towards PTN Public Service Agency (BLU) and then PTN, Legal Entity continued, Ridwan, SPI also plays an important role. Of the four main requirements for BLU, namely income, financial governance, discipline, reliable human resources, Universitas Malikussaleh only lacks on the income side.
So far the expenses are still big. The strategy is to increase the number of recipients of students and scholarships, or increase UKT, but this has become unpopular. "Unimal is the campus with the lowest UKT in Indonesia. But in the future maybe it can be adjusted gradually," he said.
In internal control, Ridwan assessed that the role of SPI should be as a doorstop. First, Universitas Malikussaleh must be supported by reliable human resources so that all are able to carry out their duties and functions correctly. For that, a good management system is needed. "Lastly, there was the role of SPI."
Sometimes SPI also plays a role as a unit to accommodate complaints and complaints such as lecturer certification and excess teaching hours (KJM) for stagnant lecturers. According to Ridwan, the choice of lecturers to complain to SPI is healthier than letting the problem pop out. "We see where the problem is to find a way out," concluded Ridwan.[]