Introduction Executive Summary

1.1 Executive  Summary

The Study Program of Veterinary Medicine is one of study programs under the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-Udayana University (here and after called SPVM-UN), which is located in Denpasar City, Bali. The SPVM-UN has held two levels of education, namely undergraduate and professional programs in the field of veterinary medicine since its establishment. The undergraduate program is contained with a total of 146 credits (including a bachelor thesis), followed by a professional program with 37 SKS (including a final assessment of veterinarian). A student is awarded a title of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine after passing the undergraduate program, and then awarded  a title of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Veterinarian after finishing the professional program.  For the specific competency of the faculty’s excellent program, the SPVM-UN offers a range of scientific field of interests, such as Bali cattle, Kintamani dogs, and Bali pigs, which are rarely found at other veterinary educational programs in Indonesia.  Recently (year 2019), the SPVM-UN has been re-accredited and achieved excellent grade by the Indonesian Higher Education Independent Accreditation Board of School of Medicine (LAM PTKes).

The SPVM-UN acts in compliance with Udayana University policy on Quality Assurance.  In order to pursue the excellent quality and implement the rector of Udayana University instruction, the SPVM-UN intends to adopt the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance  (AUN-QA)  framework to be an ASEAN international standart institution in Southeast Asia. A task force team has been formed and they have worked intensively to fulfill the AUN-QA criteria such as the expected learning outcomes (ELOs), programme specification, programme structures and contents, teaching and learning approaches, student assessments, academic staff quality, support staff quality,  student quality and support, facilities and infrastructures, quality enhancement report, output of the faculty performance, and the analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the program.

The ELOs of SPVM-UN have been formulated in consideration to the Indonesian Veterinary Association and the National Standards of Higher Education in Indonesia. The ELOs also consist of stakeholder consideration and needs, and have been aligned with the vision and mission of Udayana University.  

The SPVM-UN curriculum is structured based on the time unit of semester. The curriculum is designed according to hierarchical system, i.e.: basic courses are given in the first of academic year, followed by intermediate courses in the second to third academic year, and finally specialized courses in the fourth academic year for the students. This system can foster the students to achieve their competencies. However, to keep updating with newest educational system, recent stakeholders needs and the development of knowledge and technology, the curriculum is revised every 5 years. On the other hand, reviewing the curriculum, especially the content, teaching methods, and the schedule of the courses, is actually held every semester to be fixed with the latest situation and students expectation.

Moreover, the SPVM-UN is designed with a different teaching and learning model for the undergraduate and professional programs. The undergraduate program offers the form of teaching and learning in class, seminar, community service (in field), and research.  In class, teaching courses  have been formulated  by combining  tutorial and student centered learning. However,   in the professional program,  teaching and learning method have been  mainly conducted  in laboratory,  practiced in the field, and an animal hospital or animal clinics. The profession students  are mainly learning in the form of  problem based learning. 

For student assessment, the master of lecture courses are evaluated in the form of written and oral tests, essay, task, performance, observational assessment, or portfolio assessment which cover soft and hard skills. Schedules of the final test each semester, including the bachelor thesis assessment, and the final test to be veterinarian are arranged, organized and fixed centrally in the SPVM-UN.  Meanwhile, the competency exam of the veterinarian is held and organized nationally by the Indonesian Association of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with the SPVM-UN.

The SPVM-UN has been equipped with qualified lecturers with their professional knowledge and skills. A total of 71 lecturers, who are 15 professors (21,13%), 28 doctoral graduates (39,44%) and 28 master graduates (39,44%) has supported and continually improved  the quality of student’s teaching and learning process. Moreover, the implementation of the research results based theories are also fully implemented to improve the lecturer’s courses for the students. In terms of academic staff qualification, member staff have highly academic competency who always enthusiastic in facilitating the teaching and learning process for the students. In addition, the implementation of online system called IMISSU at Udayana University as the latest online educational management  system has encouraged the academic and administrative staff to work actively with high responsibility and discipline. By using the recent educational technology with national standard facilities and infrastructures sufficiently supports the success of the program.

In October 2019, SPVM-UN has graduated 2677 students with 1407 undergraduates, and 1176 veterinarians, who mostly achieved honorable predicate of graduation. The alumni have worked at any level of occupations, both in private and public sectors with occupational time around 3 months post graduate.  Even, some alumni have worked in international veterinary hospitals in Netherland, Iceland, Abu Dhabi, and Malaysia.

On strengths and weaknesses analysis, the SPVM-UN is rated at a higher level than adequate, which means the supporting evidence has been more sufficiently implemented. The strengths include expected learning outcomes that are clearly formulated, communicated, and  structured. Additionally, the study program has been supported by qualified and certified lecturers who have highly professional knowledge and skills. Furthermore, research results based theories are also fully implemented by the lecturers to update the latest theories in supporting the up-to-date related knowledge and improving the quality of the courses. The staff members are always enthusiastic in facilitating the teaching and learning process to the students. Moreover, the implementation of a new online management  system namely IMISSU has encouraged the academic staff as well as administrative and other supporting staff to work actively with high responsibility and discipline.   Furthermore, sufficient facilities and infrastructures, contribution of the alumni, and the curriculum reviewed on the feedback from stakeholders periodically are also a strong aspect to support success of the study program.

Nevertheless, improvement is also needed and implemented in order to overcome  the weakness of the program. The improvement has been conducted and some are still ongoing  such as:   applying a set of integrated online tools with university to get more feedbacks from alumni and employers,  improvement in English proficiency to any academic staff, support young lecturer staff by encouraging them to study abroad like America, Thailand and Australia. Support the students to have international veterinary education and experience by attending seminars, workshops or even short courses.  Additionally, Veterinary English Club, an extracurricular activity for the students, is formed to support understanding and referring related scientific veterinary articles in English.  In principal, the institution is committed to keep maintaining and improving the  quality of graduates so that they can meet nationally and internationally market demand requirement.