Banda Aceh, Saturday, February 3, 2024 – As part of the development of an Outcome-Based Education (OBE)-based curriculum, the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of USK held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Graduate Competencies, Stakeholders, Professional Associations, and Alumni on Saturday, February 3, 2024, in the FMIPA-USK Senate Room in Banda Aceh. This activity aimed to gather input and suggestions from stakeholders, professional associations, and alumni to improve the quality of the existing curriculum.
At exactly 9:00 AM, the event was opened by the First Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Dr. Nasrullah, S.Si., M.Sc. In his opening remarks, he emphasized the importance of improving the quality of physics graduates (outcomes) to make them more adaptable to workforce needs.
Outcome-Based Education is a curriculum that focuses on learning outcomes. Therefore, it is not merely about applying subject matter in the classroom, but also about equipping graduates with the skills needed to navigate the professional world.
When a university implements an OBE curriculum, it also supports the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) policy. Thus, through the implementation of this program, higher education institutions will be better prepared to position their graduates to compete in the global arena, Dr. Nasrullah explained.
Next, the Head of the Physics Department, Dr. Saumi Syahreza, introduced the department and the three programs offered by the Physics Department, namely the D3 Electronics Engineering Program, the Physics Program, and the Master’s Program in Physics, as well as an explanation of the OBE concept and how it will be implemented in the curriculum within the Physics Department.
The event was attended by various participants, particularly graduate employers (stakeholders) from various institutions and Physics alumni, including both experienced professionals and recent graduates. Participants attended both in-person and online.
The organizing committee also received numerous inputs and suggestions from stakeholders and alumni as part of establishing and developing the Graduate Profile (GP) and Graduate Profile Outcomes (GPO).