Institut Teknolog Kalimantan (ITK) recently hosted an event involving several public universities from East and North Kalimantan. During the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) held on October 24, 2024, the Internal Supervisory Units (SPI) from seven institutions in the region gathered to officially establish the SPI Community for Universities in East and North Kalimantan (PTN Kaltim-Tara). In addition to ITK’s SPI, the event was attended by representatives from SPI Universitas Mulawarman, SPI Politeknik Negeri Samarinda, SPI Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Samarinda, SPI Politeknik Negeri Balikpapan, SPI Universitas Borneo Tarakan, and SPI Politeknik Negeri Nunukan. This community was initiated as a platform aimed at strengthening cross-institutional support and collaboration among professionals in the higher education sector.

As internal supervisors, SPIs play a vital role in upholding good governance and institutional integrity. In this forum, ITK’s Head of General and Academic Bureau, Mr. Yuspian, S.Sos., M.I.R., delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of an integrity-based culture in campus governance and the role of SPIs in fostering public trust.

A presentation by the Head of the BPKP Provincial Representative Office of East Kalimantan on the Fraud Control Plan was another highlight. He elaborated on the importance of oversight in preventing fraud within educational institutions, underscoring that SPI oversight is crucial to maintaining institutional integrity and accountability.

A Community for Collaboration and Skill Development

The establishment of the SPI Community was rooted in the spirit of togetherness and the constitutional right to association. During discussions, participants shared challenges faced in their respective institutions and explored how collaboration could enhance oversight efforts. With this community, SPIs are expected to exchange information, offer recommendations, and support increasingly complex supervisory tasks.

The community’s organizational structure comprises seven core members, with the Head of ITK’s SPI elected as Chair and the Head of Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Samarinda’s SPI appointed as Secretary. Involving younger generations in key roles is hoped to bring new approaches to supervisory tasks and ensure continuity of experience through direct mentoring from senior members.

Ongoing Development Programs

The SPI Community will hold regular activities, including workshops and training sessions, to enhance member competencies. Through annual meetings, the community aims to provide a forum for SPI members to learn modern oversight techniques and expand inter-institutional networks. At the event's close, all SPI representatives signed an official record as a mutual commitment to forming this community.

With this spirit of collaboration, the SPI Community in East and North Kalimantan is expected to become a space where members can support one another in fulfilling their SPI roles in their respective universities.