SEMARANG – The scope of study in Aquaculture Undergraduate Study Program of Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Diponegoro University (UNDIP) is wider than fisheries studies. In this study program, in addition to learning about the potential of marine and fresh and brackish fisheries, students are also provided with knowledge about maintenance, captivity, and breeding of marine and freshwater biota such as fish, shrimp, oysters, seaweed, and so on.
The Head of Department of Aquaculture who is also Head of Aquaculture Undergraduate Study Program, Dr. Ir. Sarjito, MAppSc, said that although it is part of fisheries, aquaculture is a fishery of the future. “Currently, the aquaculture world is experiencing a very significant development, including the industry,” said Sarjito, on Tuesday (9/3/2021).
He admitted that there is still a perception that aquaculture is about the cultivation of shrimp, grouper, milkfish, seaweed and others. However the scope of learning is broader than that. Starting from seed production, feed, consumption size, and related facilities and infrastructure are all studied in aquaculture.
To differentiate aquaculture and fisheries, one indication is their emphasis on producing products. Fisheries tend to use the wild natural resources, while aquaculture emphasizes on cultivation. “The final result can be similar, but the process is different,” added Sarjito.
Aquaculture Undergraduate Study Program Undip was born based on the Decree of the Director General of DIKTI No. 473/DIKTI/Kep/1995 under the name Aquaculture Study Program. Ir. Endang Arini, M.Si. becomes the first Head of Aquaculture Study Program, which is originally part of Fisheries Study Program. To face global challenges and existing developments, the nomenclature of Fisheries Cultivation Study Program is changed to become an Aquaculture Study Program.
In only three years after its establishment, the academic quality of Aquaculture Study Program Undip received recognition from National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT) with B Accreditation in 1998. Then it rose to A Accreditation in 2004, according to the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education Decree No. 06753/Ak-VII-S1-032/UDEBYP/VIII/2004. This achievement of the best academic quality will continue to be maintained in the next accreditation period so that A Accreditation is still maintained to this day.
Apart from being strict in maintaining quality, Aquaculture Study Program also prepare its students with knowledge that is relevant to the nowadays’ demands. Students are equipped with entrepreneurial knowledge, especially those related to the potential of aquatic culture. Graduates of Aquaculture Study Program are also recognized as equal as Equivalent Level to Indonesian National Qualification Framework (Kerangka Kualifikasi Nasional Indonesia) with Level 6. “The priority of our curriculum is to produce aquaculture entrepreneurs and developers, apart from of course careers as researchers, consultants, managers, educators and aquaculture instructors,” said Sarjito.
It should be noted that Equivalent Level to Indonesian National Qualification Framework is a qualification ranking of Indonesian human resources that accumulates, equates, and integrates the education sector with the training and work experience sectors. They are gathered in a work ability recognition scheme that is arranged according to the structure in various work sectors. There are 9 qualification levels, starting with qualification level 1 as the lowest qualification and qualification level 9 as the highest qualification.
The determination of the level 1 to 9 is carried out through a comprehensive mapping of labor conditions in Indonesia in terms of the labor producer (supply push) and user (demand pull). The descriptor for each qualification level is also adjusted to examine overall conditions of the country. Undip Aquaculture graduates are immediately included in level 6 of Equivalent Level to Indonesian National Qualification Framework, which means that they are only three steps away from entering the highest level.
All the achievements are completed since all of the qualities are well maintained. Qualifications of Aquaculture Study Program Undip can be seen from the composition of the teaching staff. There are currently three professors and fourteen doctors include in its teaching staffs. However there are those who still qualify for master degrees, but some of them are currently attending doctoral programs.