Several lecturers from the ITERA Food Technology Study Program held a visit and benchmarking study to the Department of Food Science and Technology, IPB Bogor, on 2 June 2022. The purpose of the visit was to discuss study program management and MBKM cooperation between ITERA and IPB. The ITERA lecturers were welcomed by Dr. Eko Purnomo, Head of the Department, and Dr. Faleh Setia Budi. A presentation on the management of the ITP study program was delivered by Dr. Eko Purnomo for approximately 60 minutes. The presentation covered the history of the study program, the curriculum, achievements, and the implementation of MBKM. After Dr. Eko’s presentation, a discussion and Q&A session followed with the ITERA PSTP lecturers. Several questions were raised by the ITERA PSTP lecturers in order to learn about study program management in various aspects. Dr. Eko explained that there are many MBKM schemes that students can utilize to support their learning. The campus has provided various schemes, such as joining Permata Pangan, Permata Sari, and IISMA. He also explained the schemes or stages that a study program must undertake to achieve international accreditation, from the curriculum to laboratory completeness. This MBKM scheme is implemented to improve students’ soft skills. The ITERA PSTP lecturers also expressed their wish to send ITERA students to IPB for one semester of in-person study as a student exchange. This was raised in the interest of MBKM cooperation with the ITP Department of IPB. In addition to the discussion, the ITERA PSTP lecturers also visited the laboratories at IPB for a laboratory benchmarking study. The ITERA PSTP lecturers discussed laboratory facilities that need to be completed. Dr. Faleh, as coordinator, said that laboratory facilities must be completed gradually to support student learning and improve the study program’s accreditation. After this benchmarking study, it is hoped that ITERA PSTP can gradually improve its study program accreditation and increase graduates who are competent in both hard skills and soft skills.
