To this end, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta held a Technical Guidance session on Prior Learning Recognition (RPL) Assessment on Wednesday (1/7/2026). Held at the Meeting Room on the 1st Floor of the General Administrative Center (PAU) of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, the event aimed to strengthen the capacity of RPL assessors so that the process of recognizing prospective students' competencies is conducted objectively, accountably, and in accordance with established standards.

The technical guidance was attended by participants from the admissions unit, academic administration, the PTIPD team, the RPL task force team, and prospective RPL assessors, comprising study program heads, study program secretaries, and senior lecturers from RPL-implementing study programs.

In her address, the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Dr. Hj. Istiningsih, expressed her appreciation to the study programs that have prepared themselves to implement RPL and have obtained their implementation certificates. She noted that the introduction of RPL forms part of the university's commitment to expanding access to higher education for those who already possess work experience or competencies relevant to their chosen field of study.

“RPL provides an opportunity for those who already have experience and competencies to continue their higher education without having to repeat the entire learning process from the beginning,” she said.

Prof. Istiningsih also highlighted a challenge currently facing universities, a declining interest among the public in pursuing higher education. This situation, she argued, must serve as a catalyst for every study program to continue improving.

She affirmed that curriculum development and the refinement of graduate learning outcomes must be pursued continuously so that study programs remain capable of meeting the evolving needs of society and the world of work.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the UIN Sunan Kalijaga RPL Management Team, Prof. Dr. Pajar Hatma Indra Jaya, emphasized the importance of upholding integrity throughout the RPL assessment process. He reminded participants that the recognition of an individual's learning experience must be conducted professionally, based on competency evidence that can be verified and accounted for.

“Malpractice in RPL assessment must not be allowed to occur. Study programs already have an RPL guidebook. Our challenge today is how to implement that guidebook correctly and consistently in the assessment process,” he said.

According to Prof. Pajar, the session was designed not only to build understanding of the relevant regulations, but also to equip assessors with practical skills in conducting document assessment for RPL Type A, through the recognition of learning outcomes derived from work experience, training, and non-formal learning.

Over the course of a full day, participants studied document verification procedures, techniques for mapping competency evidence against graduate learning outcomes, and the principles of assessment that uphold objectivity, transparency, and accountability.

This technical guidance session forms part of UIN Sunan Kalijaga's commitment to delivering a credible RPL program through the strengthening of assessor capacity across every study program, ensuring that the recognition of prospective students' competencies is conducted objectively while maintaining the academic quality of higher education. (humassk)