SEMARANG – Diponegoro University (Undip) Ranking Office holds the 5th SDGs Webinar with the theme “Quality Online Learning Systems in the New Normal Era”. This is an important discussion because online learning formulations can affect the quality of learning. For this reason, webinars were held to obtain a formulation of how to carry out lectures online but still retain its quality.
Undip Rector, Prof. Dr. Yos Johan Utama SH MH ensured that online lectures will be held until the end of 2020. Therefore, it was initiated to look for lecture formulas for online lesson but the quality of learning must be maintained. “We will discuss this with those who are competent and experienced,” said Prof. Yos, Friday (6/26/2020).
The issue of lectures and online learning has emerged and been carried out since the Covid-19 outbreak hit. But until now there has been no specific discussion about the impact between the application of online learning with its quality, even though it is an important thing that needs to be known by the community.
In an effort to find a quality online class formulation, Undip held a webinar featuring the Acting Director General of Higher Education Ministry of Education and Culture, Prof. Ir. Nizam MSc, DIC, PhD; Menristek Dikti Period 2014-2019 which is now act as the Special Staff to the Vice President, Prof. Mohammad Nasir PhD Akt; Rector of the Open University (UT), Prof. Ojat Darojat MBus, PhD; Associate Professor from Swinburne University of Technology Australia, Dina Wahyuni GCLTHE, MBusAcc, PhD; and Undip Rector Prof. Yos Johan Utama SH MH. The discussion was moderated by Vice Rector 1 of Undip, Prof. Prof. Budi Setiyono SSos, MPol.Admin, PhD.
Looking at the composition of the speakers and discussion moderator, it can be expected that the relationship between online lectures and academic quality can be discussed appropriately, so that adequate formulations can be obtained and can assist higher education providers in organizing online lectures. The Director General of Higher Education is clearly a resource person who understand exactly what higher education institutions must do in their role as supervisors and regulators; while Prof. Nasir is known as someone who is capable of reforming higher education in Indonesia which results him to be able to enter the ranks of higher education in the world.
The presence of the Open University Rector has also become the spark of interest because it is the higher education institution that has been conducting online lectures through various existing platform models. The presence of Associate Professor from Swinburne University of Technology Australia, Dina Wahyuni, completes the perspective of discussion through sharing experiences of conducting online lectures in Australia. As a moderator, the Vice Rector 1 who are currently in charge of Academic and Student Affairs certainly keeps the discussion traffic in focus on the main substance.
Undip Rector some time before has also emphasized that until the end of 2020, this higher education institutions located in Tembalang, Semarang, will implement an online lecture system. Therefore, to maintain the quality of education, Undip needs to initiate relevant formulations as a guideline.
As the government made a decision on the guidelines for the implementation of learning and lectures in the Academic Year and the New Academic Year 2020-2021 during the coronavirus disease pandemic (Covid-19). The guidelines compiled from the results of cooperation and synergy between ministries which were aimed at preparing education units when undergoing a period of new habits.
The decision was made by the Ministry of Education and Culture (Kemendikbud) together with the Task Force for the Acceleration Handling of Covid-19, the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK), Ministry of Religion (Kemenag), Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), The Agency of National Disaster Management (BNPB), and DPR Commission X.
In the Ministerial Decree 4 it is known that in July 2020 the school will start its educational activities. Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Anwar Makarim said, the principle of the issuance of educational policies during the Covid-19 pandemic was to prioritize the health and safety of students, educators, education personnel, families, and the community.
The new school year for early child education (PAUD), basic education and secondary education in 2020/2021 were all planned to start in July 2020 but have to follows strict protocols. Even for areas with yellow, orange, and red zones, it is prohibited to conduct face-to-face learning.
From the data received, up to Monday (6/15), there were 94% of students in the yellow, orange and red zones; which means it covers 429 districts or cities, which also means that they must continue to study from home. The students who are currently in the green zone were only around 6%.
The “Quality Online Learning System in the New Normal Era” Webinar will be held on Monday, June 29, 2020 at 10:00 to 12. 30 WIB and aired live via Zoom and YouTube. To participate in this event, participants may fill the registration form via the link https://bit.ly/SignsSeri5 then the link to join Zoom meeting and YouTube will be sent via the registered email. E-certificates are available for participants of the 5th series of SDGs Webinars.
