The Communication Studies Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Medan Area University established a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with 22 partners in a hybrid manner in the Medan Area University convention hall and using the Zoom and Youtube platforms of Medan Area University on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
These activities were summarized in the webinar "Socialization of the Internship Program in the Field of Public Relations and Journalism at the Merdeka Campus, the Communication Studies Program, University of Medan Area". The activity was opened by the Chancellor of the University of Medan Area "Prof Dr. Dadan Ramdan, M.Eng., M.Sc", and the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Medan Area "Dr Heri Kusmanto, MA" Head of the Communication Studies Study Program, Ilma Sakinah Tamsil, M.Comm, and Chairman of the DPRD SU Drs Baskami Ginting who were present virtually.
While the partners who attended directly were the Editor-in-Chief of online media such as the Editor in Chief of Mimbarumum.online Ngatirin, the Editor in Chief of Matatelinga.com Amrizal, SH, MH, and Muhammad Zeini Zein as the senior editor of Koran Medan. online. Chairman of the SU DPRD Drs Baskami Ginting and other partners took part in the webinar online via a zoom meeting.
The Chancellor of the University of Medan Area Prof. Dr. Dadan Ramdan, M.Eng., M.Sc in his speech said that MBKM is a government program that must involve many parties. The goal is that students are easily absorbed, and have the quality, capacity, and competence in the business world.
“We hope that students can be absorbed in the world of work. And there is a correlation between courses and activities at the internship. We ask that students be guided so that learning outcomes from the courses they have left can be achieved,” he said.
It is said, an internship is one of MBKM activities in addition to the other seven activities. “We expect input from partners. On the other hand, we have lecturers here who are always doing research. If there is a problem in the world of work, we can help in terms of research,” he said.
Chairman of DPRD SU Drs Baskami Ginting in an asynchronous speech said DPRD SU as one of the independent campus partners supports this activity as an effort to create superior human resources.
Support of the Chairman of the DPRD SU
"Freedom of learning gives freedom and autonomy to educational institutions and freedom from bureaucracy for students to choose the fields they like," he said.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Medan University Area, Dr. Heri Kusmanto, MA emphasized that this kind of collaboration was carried out in order to participate in the government's program, namely Merdeka Learning, Merdeka Campus. “We know that MBKM aims to improve the quality of graduates, especially at the undergraduate level, to become reliable professions. To be able to link and match between universities and the business world. So when students graduate, they are ready to work,” said Dr. Heri Kusmanto, MA.
It is said that the Medan Area University will absorb what qualifications are needed by the world of work. "Therefore, we thank the partners who have opened themselves up to us to do student internships," he said.
Meanwhile, Ilma Sakinah Tamsil, M.Comm as the Head of Study Program of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Medan Area University explained the duration of the MBKM internship program. “This independent campus internship program is carried out for one semester or six months. The goal is to be able to provide sufficient experience for students,” said Ilma Sakinah.
In addition, he continued, the soft skills and hard skills in the field of public relations and journalism will be increasingly honed. "For the industrial world to get talent, if appropriate, can later be recruited, thereby reducing initial recruitment and training costs," he explained.
In the explanation session, Sherlly Maulana, ST, MT as the speaker said that students were given the opportunity for 3 semesters outside the study program and could be done outside the university. With this change in learning methods, it is hoped that the quality of graduates will improve.
“This program combines academic ideals and the needs of the world of work. With this program, students can know the real conditions of the world of work, and partners are built on the basis of mutual benefit. Partners may make special requirements for students who can be accepted as internships at the relevant place, "he said.
He again emphasized that partnerships can also build mutually beneficial research programs.
"Results of research conducted by lecturers can be used in the world of work," he said.
