UMS Faculty of Medicine Becomes First Private Campus in Indonesia to Achieve IAAHEH International Accreditation
The Faculty of Medicine (FK) at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) has achieved fully accredited international status from the Indonesian Accreditation Agency For Higher Education In Health (IAAHEH). The accreditation, valid for eight years, covers the Undergraduate Medical Study Programme and the Medical Profession Programme.
This milestone establishes FK UMS as the first private medical faculty in Indonesia, and the second medical faculty overall, to secure full international accreditation with the longest validity period of eight years. It reinforces the global and national competitiveness of its graduates.
FK UMS Dean Dr. dr. Flora Ramona Sigit Prakoeswa stated that the accreditation was the result of a collective effort by the entire academic community to build a medical education ecosystem that is excellent, humanistic, and oriented towards quality healthcare services. “Alhamdulillah, by the grace of God Almighty, we have achieved fully accredited status for eight years. For private institutions, we are the first in Indonesia,” she said.
The journey towards international accreditation was not easy. Preparations, which began in January 2024, faced regulatory changes that required FK UMS to switch accreditation bodies from ASIIN to IAAHEH, which uses different assessment instruments. For months, lecturers, education staff, students, and the network of FK UMS teaching hospitals and community health centres worked together to prepare documents and undergo field assessments.
“We all worked as a team. Everyone moved together, struggled together. Because we can never move forward if we do not collaborate,” Flora said. She added that international accreditation is not merely about the outcome, but an effort to continuously improve the quality of the institution. “The most important thing is to do our very best and let Allah do the rest. This international accreditation allows us to level up collectively. Moreover, we cannot see our own ‘blind spots’, so we need objective assessment and input from assessors for the improvement and progress of FK UMS.”
Flora noted that the fully accredited international status adds value for FK UMS students and graduates. The international recognition is expected to facilitate graduates who wish to pursue further studies or careers abroad. “The hope is that when FK UMS students graduate and take the doctor’s oath, if they want to work or study abroad, there is already a guarantee that their study programme is internationally recognised,” she said.
This achievement is also expected to further expand FK UMS’s international network through student exchanges, research collaborations, and an increase in the number of international students from various countries. “The hope is that FK UMS can become more global and expand its internationalisation,” she added.
During the field visitation, lead assessor Prof. Dr. dr. Dwiana Ocviyanti described the assessment as a significant moment, as FK UMS is the first medical faculty in Indonesia to carry out IAAHEH international accreditation in an integrated manner with LAMPTEKES national accreditation. She affirmed that FK UMS has a strong commitment to achieving international recognition and that accreditation is a process of quality improvement, not an examination.