ULM Strengthens the Establishment Process of the Banua Enam Balangan Off-Campus Study Program (PSDKU)
Yogyakarta – Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) continues to solidify its steps towards establishing the Banua Enam Balangan Off-Campus Study Program (PSDKU) through a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and a distance learning mock study held in Yogyakarta on Friday (November 28, 2025).
This activity was led by ULM’s Vice Rector for Finance and General Affairs, Dr. Ir. Arief Rahmad Maulana Akbar, M.Sc., IPU. At this stage, ULM is finalizing preparations for the opening of two study programs at the Balangan PSDKU: the Animal Husbandry Study Program and the Mechanical Engineering Study Program, which are expected to support the need for superior human resources in the Banua Enam region.
The FGD featured three national speakers who provided technical and strategic input regarding the PSDKU formation process:
- Deny Kurniawan, S.T., M.T.I., Head of the Sub-Directorate for Development and Institutional Arrangement of Higher Education Institutions, Diktisaintek.
- Ir. Abimanyu Dipo Nusantara, M.Sc., Ph.D., Lecturer in Soil Biology and Biotechnology, University of Bengkulu.
- Prof. Ir. Nafiatul Umami, S.Pt., M.P., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng., Lecturer and Researcher, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Gadjah Mada University.
In the discussion, each speaker provided in-depth perspectives on academic implementation policies, from fulfilling semester credit units (SKS), designing practicum schemes, providing academic support units, to strategies for implementing credible and regulatory-compliant distance learning.
Through these focus group discussions and field studies, ULM affirmed its commitment to ensuring that the opening of the PSDKU not only meets administrative standards but also ensures the quality of learning and the relevance of study programs to regional needs.
Dr. Arief emphasized that this effort is part of ULM’s mission to expand access to quality higher education, particularly in the Banua Enam region, while also supporting equitable human resource development in South Kalimantan.
With the process now underway, ULM is optimistic that the second phase of the PSDKU application will proceed smoothly and will be able to deliver strong, adaptive study programs that will provide tangible benefits to the Balangan community and the surrounding areas.
