The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the University of Jember continues to demonstrate its commitment to institutional excellence by strengthening its Key Performance Indicators (IKU). In an effort to achieve the target for IKU 3—which focuses on lecturers engaging in activities outside the campus—FISIP organized a specialized socialization event featuring an expert speaker, Dr. drg. Banun Kusumawardani, M.Kes. The initiative aimed to provide strategic guidance for faculty members to contribute more actively to both the industrial sector and the wider community.
During her presentation, Dr. drg. Banun Kusumawardani emphasized the critical importance of synergy between academics and practitioners. She asserted that IKU 3 should not be viewed merely as an administrative requirement, but rather as a bridge for lecturers to directly apply their knowledge in addressing real-world challenges. Furthermore, she shared her insights on how cross-disciplinary collaboration can unlock opportunities for high-impact research, as well as foster recognition at both national and international levels.
The Dean of FISIP University of Jember noted that the presence of a competent speaker like Dr. Banun offered fresh perspectives for educators within the faculty. This “Impactful Campus” program is strategically designed to encourage lecturers to venture beyond traditional classroom teaching, urging them to serve as consultants, visiting researchers, or practitioners in reputable institutions. This initiative is highly anticipated to instill a stronger sense of professionalism within the campus environment once the lecturers return to share their real-world insights with students.
The interactive session also addressed various obstacles that lecturers frequently encounter when establishing external partnerships. To mitigate these challenges, Dr. Banun provided practical tips on portfolio development and effective time management, ensuring that core campus responsibilities remain balanced with optimal external contributions. The participants demonstrated high enthusiasm, particularly during discussions regarding the reporting mechanisms required for activities to be officially recognized within the faculty performance appraisal system.
Through this socialization, FISIP University of Jember remains optimistic about surpassing its IKU achievement targets this year. The surge in off-campus faculty activities is believed to directly contribute to curriculum updates, making them more relevant to contemporary global demands. Driven by a spirit of collaboration, FISIP UNEJ stands ready to produce graduates who are not only theoretically sound but also possess broad practical insights gained from mentors with extensive real-world experience.