The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities conducted a Memorandum of Understanding/MoU signing and benchmarking visit with the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya. The activity took place in the Meeting Room of Griya Wiyata, 5th Floor, UNTAG Surabaya, as part of the faculty’s institutional effort to strengthen academic collaboration and prepare for the establishment of a master’s program in Psychology.
The delegation from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities was led by the Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Cooperation, Dr. Rama Kertamukti, together with the initiation team for the establishment of the professional psychology program, namely Miftahun Ni’mah Suseno, S.Psi., M.A., Psychologist, Handy Aulia Zharfani, M.Psi., Psychologist, and Krysna Yudy Nusantari, M.Psi., Psychologist. Their participation reflected the faculty’s commitment to developing academic capacity, institutional readiness, human resources, and governance structures required for the advancement of psychology education.
The delegation was welcomed by the leadership of the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, including Dr. Diah Sofiah, M.Si., Psychologist, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology; Dr. Dyan Evita Santi, M.Si., Psychologist, Head of the Master’s Program in Psychology; Dr. Andik Matulessy, M.Si., Psychologist, Head of the Professional Psychology Program; and Elza Kusumawati, M.Psi., Psychologist, Secretary of the Professional Psychology Education Study Program.
The MoU signing marked a strategic step in building institutional cooperation between higher education institutions, particularly in the areas of education, research, community engagement, curriculum development, and academic quality enhancement. The collaboration is expected to serve not merely as an administrative arrangement, but also as a foundation for substantive academic partnerships that support institutional development and the professional competence of graduates.
In addition to the MoU signing, the benchmarking session focused on exchanging experiences and good practices in the management of master’s and professional psychology programs. The discussion covered several key areas, including curriculum design, study program governance, internal quality assurance, preparation of academic and administrative staff, professional practice management, academic supervision systems, and strategies for developing partnerships with relevant institutions.
The Faculty of Psychology at UNTAG Surabaya was considered a relevant benchmarking partner due to its experience in managing psychology education at both master’s and professional levels. Through this forum, the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities gained valuable insights into academic standards, regulatory requirements, institutional structures, and quality assurance mechanisms that need to be carefully prepared in the process of establishing a new study program.
Dr. Rama Kertamukti stated that the activity formed part of the faculty’s broader institutional effort to strengthen its academic development in a sustainable manner. He emphasized that the establishment of a master’s program in Psychology requires comprehensive preparation, not only in terms of academic design but also institutional governance and social relevance. Learning from an experienced institution, therefore, becomes an important step in ensuring that the initiation process is aligned with the principles of quality, accountability, and higher education standards.
The initiation team also highlighted the importance of integrating scientific development, social needs, and professional standards in psychology. The establishment of a new study program should not be understood merely as an expansion of educational services, but also as a contribution to preparing graduates with strong academic competence, professional ethics, and sensitivity to contemporary social and humanitarian issues.
Through this activity, both faculties are expected to develop sustainable cooperation in various forms, including academic collaboration, guest lectures, joint research, community engagement programs, and institutional capacity building. The MoU signing and benchmarking visit serve as an important milestone for the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities in strengthening the foundation for the establishment of a master’s program in Psychology that is academically sound, adaptive, and responsive to societal needs.
The activity concluded with an institutional discussion and the exploration of possible follow-up programs between the two parties. The results of the benchmarking session will serve as an important reference for preparing academic documents, mapping resource requirements, and formulating strategic directions for the development of the proposed psychology study program within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities.