Surakarta, 22 May 2026 – The Master’s Programme in Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), has once again reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the quality of higher education. This was evidenced by the Field Assessment (AL) conducted by the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT), which took place over three days, from 21 to 23 May 2026. This assessment process is an essential stage for the study programme in its target to achieve the “Unggul” (Excellent) accreditation rating.
The assessment activities were led directly on behalf of the faculty by the Dean of the UMS Faculty of Psychology, Dr. Lisnawati Ruhaena, M.Si., Psikolog. Meanwhile, the team of assessors from BAN-PT who attended to conduct direct verification and evaluation were Prof. Dr. Suryanto, M.Si., Psikolog from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) and Dr. Dra. Lena Nessyana Pandjaitan, M.Ed., Psikolog from Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA).
The opening ceremony of the field assessment proceeded solemnly, commencing with the singing of the Indonesian national anthem, Indonesia Raya, and the proud march of Muhammadiyah, Sang Surya.
The Vice Rector I of UMS, Prof. Ihwan Susila, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., in his remarks representing the university leadership, stated that UMS had made every possible effort in preparation for this assessment. He emphasised that all academic and non-academic supporting facilities, which were previously noted or requested during the prior assessment, have now been completed and upgraded in quality.
“UMS is not only stepping forward but also inspiring a new direction for higher education based on values and quality,” Prof. Ihwan asserted, concluding the welcoming session for the assessor team with profound optimism.
A formal yet warm atmosphere characterised the opening ceremony. Prof. Dr. Suryanto, M.Si., Psikolog, as the representative of the BAN-PT assessor team, also delivered a speech that broke the ice. He expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome from the university. Joking slightly, Prof. Suryanto praised the excellence service provided by the UMS committee, from the pick-up process through to their arrival on the day of the event, which he found highly impressive.
Within the higher education quality assurance system in Indonesia, the Field Assessment (AL) stage is an absolute requirement and the most crucial phase for a study programme to achieve the “Unggul” (Excellent) accreditation predicate. This process serves as the ultimate proof that the quality standards implemented by the institution genuinely meet the highest qualifications of the National Standards for Higher Education (SN-Dikti).
Although often perceived as a nerve-wracking stage, the implementation of the AL is fundamentally not an investigative attempt to find faults within the study programme. Rather, it is purely a process of verification, validation, and comprehensive cross-checking of data against the reports previously submitted by the university. This was directly emphasised by Prof. Dr. Suryanto, M.Si., Psikolog, to provide both reassurance and motivation for the ranks of the UMS Faculty of Psychology.
“We are here by no means to search for mistakes, but rather to capture the reality objectively. We want to ensure that the actual implementation of academic programmes on the ground is truly aligned with the accreditation documents that UMS has submitted online. Interestingly, whilst observing the processes here, I noticed that this campus shares many similarities in terms of academic rhythm and quality culture with my home university at UNAIR,” expressed Prof. Suryanto.
“In the future, this can be improved even further,” remarked Prof. Suryanto, which was met with warm laughter from the attendees.
The opening ceremony sequence was then concluded with a prayer led by Aad Satria Permadi, Ph.D., seeking smooth proceedings and the best possible outcome for the institution. Following a group photo session to document the occasion, the assessor team, along with the leadership ranks and the quality assurance unit team of the UMS Faculty of Psychology, immediately proceeded to the core agenda: the comprehensive evaluation and Field Assessment process.
Through meticulous preparation and the dedication of the entire academic community, the UMS Faculty of Psychology is optimistic that the Master’s in Psychology Programme will successfully achieve the “Unggul” (Excellent) accreditation, establishing it as a reference centre for high-quality master’s education in psychology, both nationally and internationally.
