Additional explanation concerning the recognition of credits obtained at other higher education institutions

Concerning student mobility, the government recently (in 2020) launched a program that can increase student mobility. The program is called Merdeka Belajar – Kampus Merdeka (MBKM). By this program, students may take lectures and internships from other universities and institutions. According to the Decree of MoRTHE number 74 of 2021, the recognition of the learning credit for MBKM Program was designed to facilitate learning mobility between institutions for a short-term study period. This guide determines the recognition of semester credits for students who carry out learning outside programs or higher education institutions. The program is managed by The MoRTHE centrally, or universities and validated by the MoRTHE. There are 9(nine) Program of Merdeka Belajar include Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards Program.

To facilitate credit recognition, the following conditions need to be consider

1. Learning Agreement
   Based on Morthe’s rules, there are 9 (nine) mobility schemes that become the references for the joint program’s agreed mobility schemes. This Learning Agreement is intended to give the student the confirmation that the credits achieved in a partner institution are automatically recognized if the agreed rules are followed and all conditions are satisfied. The rules can be seen on Guide Book ILIC from MoRTHE 2020 and Decree of MoRTHE number 74 of 2021.
   (https://akademik.unhas.ac.id/storage/dokumen/dokumen-1620606210-Salinan%20Kepmen%20Nomor%2074%20P%202021%20tentang%20Pengakuan%20Satuan%20Kredit%20Semester%20Pembelajaran%20Program%20Kampus%20Merdeka.pdf).
2. Institutional rules and regulations
   Each University that takes a part in the joint programs has provided a curriculum description of their study program including learning outcomes, SKS, learning and teaching methods, and assessment methods, as well as the catalog of the courses which are offered online. The university also guarantees that students taking outside credit do not need to get additional assignments or exams. without requiring the student to take any additional work or examination. In Hasanuddin University, how to facilitate learning outside the study program, grade conversion guide, equalizing credit and grade guide,  can be seen at the Rector Universitas Hasanuddin Regulation No. 5/UN4/2020 about Implementation of Learning Outside The Study Program in Hasanuddin University Undergraduate Program
   (https://akademik.unhas.ac.id/storage/dokumen/dokumen-1620548753-passkey_PERATURAN%20REKTOR%20PENYELENGGARAAN%20PEMBELAJARAN%20DI%20LUAR%20PRODI-FIX.pdf),
   Guide Book for Implementation of Learning Outside The Study Program in Hasanuddin University Undergraduate Program. (https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Z120wBfmwmXwom32BQd0FPQ8XZzm9yO/view), credit transfer guide Universitas Hasanuddin
   (https://akademik.unhas.ac.id/storage/dokumen/dokumen-1620648032-passkey_Credit%20Transfer%20UNHAS.pdf,  and Independent Student Exchange Standard Operational Guide (https://akademik.unhas.ac.id/storage/dokumen/dokumen-1619424078-Passkey-POB-Pertukaran-Mahasiswa-Merdeka.pdf).
3. Integration of credit mobility into programs
   Long before the emergence of an independent learning program, credit transfer was carried out if a student moved from one university to another. Credit transfer is carried out manually by equalizing the courses programmed in other universities with the courses at the destination with the consideration that both subjects are considered equal to have the equivalent of credits and have similar learning outcomes. However, with the independent learning program, BPM must prepare a credit transfer system so that it can apply at any time. With the current curriculum, the process to be carried out is by using a manual process as has been done previously. In the future, BPM will prepare a structuring credit mobility in the curricula facilitates recognition mechanism in the new curriculum that will be discussed in 2022.

Source: https://akademik.unhas.ac.id/home/dokumen/2

SIPAKAMASE: Electronic Recognition System for Student Academic Competencies

SIPAKAMASE, or Sistem Pengakuan Kompetensi Akademik Mahasiswa Secara Elektronik, is an integrated electronic platform developed to support the recognition of student academic competencies at Universitas Hasanuddin. The system facilitates the documentation, verification, assessment, and conversion of student activities into recognized academic credits, particularly for activities related to MKPK and MBKM-based learning schemes. SIPAKAMASE can be accessed through the Universitas Hasanuddin academic ecosystem, including the SSO/NeoSia-based authentication system, thereby ensuring that student activity recognition is managed in an integrated and accountable manner.

Through SIPAKAMASE, students are able to record academic and non-classroom learning activities, monitor the status of their submissions, upload supporting evidence, and follow the conversion process into eligible courses. The system provides two main activity-recording mechanisms: Rekognisi Kegiatan Lampau (RKL), which is intended for activities conducted in previous semesters, and planned activities, which are linked to courses programmed in the current semester. In the planned activity scheme, students are advised to consult their Academic Advisor before undertaking the activity to ensure alignment between the selected activity and the courses programmed in the Study Plan Card (KRS).

The recognition process in SIPAKAMASE is designed to ensure that every activity submitted by students is supported by proper documentation and verified by authorized academic personnel. Students are required to input activity details, including the semester of implementation, activity type, title, description, membership status, supervisor information, and supporting evidence. Once all activities and evidence have been completed and approved, students may finalize the activity record. Activities that have been finalized cannot be modified and will be transferred into the activity history menu, ensuring data integrity and traceability.

SIPAKAMASE also provides structured access for lecturers, Academic Advisors, Heads of Study Programs, and verifiers. Lecturers acting as activity supervisors are responsible for verifying student evidence, providing verification status, giving optional feedback, and assessing student achievement based on the available rubrics. For MBKM activities, the assessment process may involve both the university supervisor and the external partner, with the final grade calculated based on the assessment composition provided in the system.

At the program level, SIPAKAMASE enables the Head of Study Program to assign verifiers, appoint activity supervisors, monitor student activities, synchronize student data with NeoSia, and manage the submission of recognized grades. Academic Advisors can also monitor the progress of their advisees, particularly in relation to the achievement of learning activities outside the study program. This feature supports the institutional monitoring of student participation and credit recognition in a more systematic, transparent, and measurable way.

The conversion of activities into courses and credits is conducted after the relevant activity has been verified and the corresponding course has been programmed in the student’s KRS (ECTS). The grade submission process to NeoSia can only be carried out when the grade input period is open. In addition, SIPAKAMASE provides a grade-claim mechanism through which students may notify the Head of Study Program to proceed with grade submission once the recognized course has fulfilled the required conditions.

Overall, SIPAKAMASE strengthens the governance of competency recognition by integrating student activity documentation, academic verification, rubric-based assessment, credit conversion, and grade submission into a single electronic platform. The system supports the implementation of flexible learning pathways while maintaining academic accountability, transparency, and alignment with the curriculum structure of the study program.

Source: File