Coordination Meeting with Program Coordinator, Rector Encourages Study Program to Organize BOPTN Program Well

Banjarmasin – In order to effectively allocate BOPTN Study Programs, the Rector of Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) held a Coordination Meeting with a number of Faculties and Study Programs, namely the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB ), Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Fisheries on Monday (08/01/2024) in the Senate Meeting Room, 3rd Floor of the Rectorate. Present at the event were the Vice Chancellors, Deans and Deputy Deans, and study program coordinators.

The agenda for this activity is a briefing from the ULM Rector regarding the BOPTN allocation which will be distributed directly to the Study Program. Therefore, the Rector hopes for cooperation from related parties, especially those in Faculties and Study Programs, to be able to utilize BOPTN funds optimally and well planned.

The State University Operational Assistance Fund (BOPTN) is financial assistance from the Government sourced from the state revenue and expenditure budget provided to State Universities to encourage improvements in the quality of state universities in Indonesia. BOPTN funds are allocated for various higher education needs, including study programs.

The distribution of BOPTN funds for study programs is based on several factors, including:

• Education level: Undergraduate study programs receive a larger BOPTN funding allocation than diploma study programs and vocational study programs.
• Complexity of study programs: Study programs that have a more complex curriculum and lecture materials, such as science and technology study programs, receive a larger BOPTN funding allocation than social and humanities study programs.
• Number of students: Study programs with a larger number of students receive a larger BOPTN funding allocation than study programs with a smaller number of students.

The State University Operational Assistance Fund (BOPTN) has a positive relationship with lecturers’ SINTA scores. This is because BOPTN funds can be used to support various lecturer activities that can increase SINTA scores, such as:

• Research and community service: BOPTN funds can be used to finance research and community service carried out by lecturers. Research and community service are one of the indicators used to assess lecturer performance in the Integrated Resource Information System (SINTA).
• Lecturer career development: BOPTN funds can be used to finance lecturer career development, such as attending seminars, training or international conferences. Lecturer career development is also one of the indicators used to assess lecturer performance in SINTA.
• Improving the quality of education: BOPTN funds can be used to improve the quality of education in study programs, such as providing teaching materials, facilities and infrastructure, as well as improving the quality of lecturers and education staff. Improving the quality of education can also have an impact on increasing lecturers’ SINTA scores, because lecturers who teach in quality study programs will find it easier to produce quality scientific work.

However, the Rector focused on the problems still being faced by ULM, such as the low SINTA score achieved by a number of lecturers who were still below 50, which required a minimum of 150 to be able to compete in national education journals. Therefore, assistance from the Faculty and Study Program was needed. It is very necessary to be able to increase the SINTA scores of lecturers. “Who are our lecturers who haven’t reached level 150 and who don’t have a Sinta account? So we can help and facilitate them to have a Sinta account. I’m sure they already have it to register for a Sinta account. “This is important so that there is an increase (SINTA value of 150).” Said the Rector.