ITS Chancellor Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng (right) and ITS Vice-Chancellor I Prof Dr Ir Adi Soeprijanto MT (left) directly observed the implementation of the first day of UTBK at ITS

ITS Campus, ITS News – Despite the improvement of Covid-19 pandemic conditions, the implementation of the first day of the Ujian Tulis Berbasis Komputer (UTBK) at the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) was carried out following the applicable health protocols. The ITS Chancellor and Chair of the Lembaga Tes Masuk Perguruan Tinggi (LTMPT), Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng, directly reviewed the implementation of UTBK at the ITS Information Systems Department Tuesday (17/4).

The Chancellor, who is familiarly called Ashari, said that nationally, the implementation of the first day of UTBK went smoothly. The UTBK participants have increased to 800,852 with as many as 460 thousand accepted participants. “There are 74 locations for implementing UTBK throughout Indonesia,” said Ashari.

According to Ashari, there are several differences in the implementation of UTBK this year compared to previous years. One of them is the English language material carried out separately, namely after the Scholastic Potential Test (TPS) and before the Academic Ability Test (TKA). “The reason for being tested separately is because, during lectures, English language skills will be needed to communicate,” explained this professor of Electrical Engineering.

For information, ITS serves 8,165 UTBK participants for 2022. UTBK at ITS itself is only held in the first wave, which is until Monday (23/5), and is held in two sessions every day. To maintain the smooth running of UTBK, Ashari revealed that ITS has coordinated with PLN of East Java Province and also added 395 servers to anticipate if the national server is constrained or disconnected.

The atmosphere of the first session on the first day of UTBK, which starts from 07.15 to 10.30 at the ITS Information Systems Department

Meanwhile, the Head of the Sub-Directorate of Admission of the ITS Education Directorate, Dr Eng Unggul Wasiwitono ST MEng Sc said that this year ITS UTBK did not cooperate with partner campuses, such as the Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya (PENS), Politeknik Perkapalan Negeri Surabaya (PPNS), and the Institut Teknologi ( IT) Telkom Surabaya. “Everything is carried out and facilitated by ITS,” he explained.

Unggul emphasized that the UTBK participants must still follow the procedures, such as wearing masks, washing hands, checking body temperature, and having been vaccinated against Covid-19 at least until the second dose. In addition, UTBK participants also do not need to bring the results of a swab test or PCR test to be able to take the exam.

This Mechanical Engineering lecturer explained that there were 41 rooms from several departments used to facilitate UTBK activities at ITS. During the Covid-19 pandemic, 10 to 20 examinees will fill each room. “Every day, there are 1,330 examinees with 665 participants in each session,” he concluded.

ITS Chancellor Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng (right) during a direct review and ensure the smooth running of the server for UTBK at ITS

On this occasion, Ashari also gave his message to the examinees that the UTBK which is a test for the Seleksi Bersama Masuk Perguruan Tinggi Negeri (SBMPTN) is not the only opportunity to be able to realize their dreams. There are many other pathways to continue their education to higher education if they do not pass through the SBMPTN later. “There is no need to worry, and always pray for the best results,” he reminded. (ITS PR)

Reporter: Regy Zaid Zakaria

Translator : Hanifah Inayah