UPNVJ Public Relations – The National Development University “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) strengthened its readiness for the implementation of the Prior Learning Recognition Program (RPL) through technical guidance for the management and assessment teams, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The activity at the UPNVJ Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Auditorium was directed at building an RPL system that is planned, measurable, accountable, and in accordance with higher education regulations.

The technical guidance was presented by the Head of the Learning Team of the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Dewi Wulandari, S.Si., and the RPL Expert Team of the Directorate of Belmawa Kemdiktisaintek, Dr. Sandra Aulia, SE, Ak., MSAk.

UPNVJ Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Henry Binsar Hamonangan Sitorus, ST, MT, said that RPL is a higher education innovation that provides an opportunity for the community to gain recognition for the learning achievements they have had.

These achievements can come from formal, non-formal, and informal education, as well as work experience relevant to the learning outcomes of a study program. Through this mechanism, people have greater opportunities to continue their education without having to repeat the entire learning process for the competencies they have already mastered.

According to Henry, RPL can open broader and more inclusive access to higher education. However, its implementation requires comprehensive readiness from universities, from regulations, governance, human resources, administration, to academically accountable assessment instruments.

"We must prepare the RPL as well as possible. The administration and regulations must be strong and supported by a competent team. All elements must collaborate and synergize for this program to run smoothly," said Henry.

He emphasized that compliance with regulations is the primary foundation for RPL implementation. Recognition of prospective students' learning experiences must be conducted through an objective, transparent, and measurable assessment process so that the results are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the courses in the target study program.

UPNVJ also needs to prepare monitoring and evaluation instruments and integrate RPL implementation into its internal quality assurance system. This step is necessary because the learning and assessment characteristics of the RPL program differ from those of the regular program.

"We must strictly adhere to the regulations. We also need to prepare all the necessary equipment, including monitoring and evaluation instruments and Internal Quality Audits. The RPL program has different characteristics than the regular program, so its management requires special preparation," he said.

Through this technical guidance, UPNVJ aims to foster a shared understanding among leaders, study program managers, the RPL team, and prospective assessors regarding RPL policies and implementation mechanisms. The forum will also be used to improve the team's competency in reviewing portfolios, assessing evidence of learning outcomes, and determining academic competency equivalency.

In addition to strengthening human resource capacity, the UPNVJ team is expected to compile the necessary supporting documentation. These documents include implementation guidelines, operational procedures, application forms, self-evaluation instruments, assessment tools, and quality control mechanisms.

Henry asked all participants to utilize the presence of the speakers to discuss various technical and substantive aspects. Dialogue with the Belmawa Directorate team was deemed crucial to ensuring that the UPNVJ RPL design not only meets administrative requirements but also ensures the quality of the recognition results.

"We must make the most of this technical guidance. Please engage in in-depth discussions with the speakers so that we can formulate all the necessary preparations appropriately," he said.

The RPL program presents a strategic opportunity for UPNVJ to reach out to community groups with competencies and work experience but who have not yet received formal academic recognition. This program also supports lifelong learning by providing a more flexible educational pathway without compromising academic standards.

The RPL preparation is part of UPNVJ's transformation under the leadership of Rector Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA, Comm., to provide inclusive, high-quality, and competitive higher education. With accountable governance and credible assessments, the RPL is expected to expand access to education while maintaining quality and public trust in UPNVJ.