Mataram, University of Mataram – The Senate of the University of Mataram (Unram) received a benchmarking visit from the Senate of the University of Bangka Belitung (UBB) in the Rector’s Conference Room, Unram Rectorate on Thursday (23/11). The visit was conducted in order to discuss the governance of the University Senate organization at BLU universities, discussion of university management, and cooperation in the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.

Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, and Information Systems, Prof. Akmaluddin, S.T., M.Sc.(Eng), Ph.D. and Chairman of the Unram Senate, Prof. Dr. Agil Al Idrus, M.Si. warmly welcomed the arrival of the UBB group.

In his welcoming speech, Prof. Akmaluddin expressed his hope that the UBB visit could be followed up with cooperation between Unram and UBB, and the UBB senate group could take the time to explore the beauty of Lombok, both in terms of tourism and culture.

Prof. Akmaluddin explained that NTB consists of two large islands, Lombok Island and Sumbawa Island, and Unram is on Lombok Island. As a tourist destination, Lombok is not much different from Bali.

“We hope that the UBB group in addition to conducting discussion visits to Unram can also take the time to explore the beauty of Lombok, Mataram City and its surroundings. Can explore tourist destinations, beaches, springs, Mount Rinjani, as well as many cultural and culinary tourism options, “he said.

Furthermore, Prof. Akmaluddin explained a brief profile of Unram which is 61 years old, Unram has 34 000 students; 72 study programs; 9 faculties consisting of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees, 1 354 lecturers, and 94 professors. By 2024, Unram is targeted to have more than 100 professors. Cumulatively, the student lecturer ratio is still ideal, has PTN-BLU status and preparing to become PTN-BH.

Prof. Dr. Agil Al Idrus, M.Si., as Chairman of the Unram Senate also warmly welcomed the arrival of the UBB senate. Prof. Agil said welcome to Unram and expressed his appreciation to UBB for choosing Unram as a benchmark destination.

Prof. Agil then explained the uniqueness of NTB, especially Lombok Island, “NTB is famous for its thousand mosques, indeed Lombok is small compared to Sumatra which only consists of two islands, Lombok Island and Sumbawa Island. Lombok Island is relatively small compared to Sumbawa Island, only about a third of the total NTB area, but 70% of NTB’s population is on Lombok Island”.

“Alhamdulillah, although it is small, but it is very complete, you want to find beaches and mountains not far away, the coastline is always side by side with the foot of the mountain, and no less unique is limited by the Weber line and the Wallace line so that there are different natural resources from the western and eastern regions,” he said.

Prof. Agil then explained the profile of the Unram Senate which consists of 6 Commissions.

“In our second period, the Unram senate is different from the previous period, the senate has its own chairman and is no longer chaired by the rector. The Unram Senate consists of 6 commissions with 61 active members, starting in the second period the Unram senate also formed a section, not as a commission but at the same level as the commission, namely the Governance Team whose task is as a think tank, “he said.

Prof. Agil further explained the governance and work system of the Unram senate. The interesting thing is about the senate budget. The Unram senate budget is annually designed together through an annual work meeting, in the work meeting all commissions compile a plan and then submit it to the rector, the senate budget is attached to the rectorate budget. Every activity is proposed to the rectorate and all programs run well with a success ra…