KUPANG - The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) officially opened a special affirmative action scholarship for lecturers in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This step was taken as an effort to accelerate the improvement of academic qualifications, considering that there are still few lecturers with the title of doctor (S-3) in the province.
Director of Resources of the Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Culture, Sri Suning Kusumawardani, stated that his ministry had prepared various scholarship schemes and intensive assistance for lecturers in affirmative areas and lagging, leading, and outermost regions (3T).
"Through the talent scouting and pre-doctoral programs, lecturers will be assisted in finding mentors and drafting research plans so that they are better prepared to continue doctoral studies at the best universities," said Sri Suning in a socialization in Kupang, Friday, June 19.
Based on the latest data, of the approximately 3,000 active lecturers who teach in NTT, only about 1,000 people or one-third of them have bagged a doctorate.
In order to accelerate the improvement of human resources quality, the Ministry of Education and Technology has launched a number of non-degree supporting programs. Among them are regional pre-doctoral affirmations, talent scouting, bridging programs, and English Language Proficiency Improvement Program (PKBI).
The implementation of these preparatory programs uses a hybrid learning scheme involving state universities (PTN) with strong research reputation, such as Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), and Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS).
"We want to ensure that lecturers can still carry out the Tri Dharma of Higher Education while preparing for further studies," said Sri Suning, adding that the hybrid format was chosen so that lecturers would not lose their academic rights such as lecturer certification and professional allowances.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Higher Education Service Agency (LLDIKTI) Region XV NTT, Adrianus Amheka, assessed that the low proportion of lecturers with doctorates has been a major obstacle to improving the quality of higher education in NTT.
"The fact that only one third of lecturers in NTT with doctoral qualifications is a condition that must be immediately responded to together. The development of academic qualifications through scholarship channels is one of the strategic steps to increase the competitiveness of universities in NTT," said Adrianus online.
He believes that an increase in the number of doctors will have a linear impact on strengthening the quality of learning, research capacity, and increasing the opportunity to obtain national research grants.
On the same occasion, the Ministry of Education and Technology also gave a stern warning to lecturers to maintain academic integrity. Lecturers are asked to stay away from unethical practices to achieve degrees or credit points, such as publishing scientific works in predatory journals or taking instant ways that violate scientific principles.
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