AUN-QA Special Feature (337th PA): Universitas Sam Ratulangi and the Powerful Philosophy of “Sitou Timou Tumou Tou”

Throughout the 25th to 27th of July 2023, AUN-QA had the opportunity to visit and assess four programmes from Universitas Sam Ratulangi (UNSRAT) onsite at the city of Manado in Indonesia. Manado is a wondrous location filled with coastline opportunities that UNSRAT has programmes for strategically taking advantage of the geographical location that develops young graduates and the community in order to build this flourishing island. UNSRAT is one of North Sulawesi’s oldest institutions established in 1965 with 11 faculties and 1 post graduate programme, totalling to 81 study programmes with a student body of around 26,000 students in 48 undergraduate programmes, 14 master study programmes, 5 doctorate study programmes, and 14 professional programmes.

 

 

The Facility Tour took our AUN-QA Assessors all across the grounds of UNSRAT to inspect and observe all aspects of the available facilities for student use

Behind all the programmes lies the powerful philosophy of “Sitou Timou Tumou Tou”, which means “Humans live to humanize other humans”, which comes from Dr. Sam Ratulangi, who the university is named after. It is well embedded into the mindset and the culture of the staff and graduates of UNSRAT that applies not only within but beyond their institution, setting up a tight community that encourages continuous learning together even after graduation. Alumni of UNSRAT indeed do return to share knowledge and experience to budding young graduates. This philosophy is also not to be just limited to just the grounds of UNSRAT. With a well established student exchange department, UNSRAT is fully prepared to send and receive students abroad to learn or teach others about this collaborative mindset.

 

Dr. Eddy Chong Siong Choy and Prof. Dr. Nina M. Cadiz, meeting and interviewing students of the Undergraduate Program in Accounting

When it comes to quality, internally UNSRAT continues to maintain and improve their quality with their own internal quality assurance systems and is looking to expand their study programmes to be recognized internationally with AUN-QA assessments. Now, rounding back to the assessment, AUN-QA’s first assessment with UNSRAT was back in July 2022, during the height of the pandemic and was done online. For the 337th AUN-QA Programme Assessment, the team had the opportunity to conduct the assessment onsite, marking the 2nd assessment and first time onsite with UNSRAT. The 4 assessed programmes were the following:

1. Undergraduate Program in Civil Engineering
2. Undergraduate Program in Management
3. Undergraduate Program in Accounting
4. Undergraduate Program in Fishery Product Technology

The Undergraduate Program in Civil Engineering is the first study program at the Faculty of Engineering where students will learn the skills to be capable of analyzing various engineering issues and make solutions by applying ideas, procedures, methods, and concepts using Civil Engineering Principles. 

 

Prof. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Riza Atiq Abdullah bin O.K. Rahmat (above) and Asst. Prof. Dr. Streerut Thadakant (below), AUN-QA Assessors for the Undergraduate Program in Civil Engineering

The second programme is the Undergraduate Program in Management which focuses on marketing, finance, human resource, and operation. The program provides students with the necessary skills to succeed in the field of management with a comprehensive understanding of its principles, concepts, and practices. 

Prof. Dr. Rosemary Seva (above) and Dr. Nguyen Thi My Ngoc (below), AUN-QA Assessors for the Undergraduate Program in Management

Thirdly, the Undergraduate Program of Accounting offers students the opportunity to learn from professional organizations to master their skills in the field of accounting. Through this programme, students will learn the skills and acquire the knowledge to handle financial accounting, tax accounting, government accounting, and the concepts and theories all related to accounting. 

Dr. Eddy Chong Siong Choy (above) and Prof. Dr. Nina M. Cadiz (below), AUN-QA Assessors for the Undergraduate Program in Accounting

For the fourth, the Undergraduate Program in Fishery Product Technology hits closer to home being a program well suited for the coastline location of UNSRAT in Manado. Students in this program will learn to utilize and even develop innovative research of fishery products that has potential impact on domestic and international operations.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Amalina Muhammad Afifi (above) and Mr. Mean Udam (below), AUN-QA Assessors for the Undergraduate Program in Fishery Product Technology