The leadership of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) in the regions, known as Regional Campuses (KAMDA), has long harbored a hope for transformation. The evolution from UPP to KAMDA remains a curiosity among the academic community. Numerous efforts have been made, including innovative ideas through the Academic Senate, campus management from statutes to organizational structures, and extensive discussions and programs. These efforts continue to evolve, driven by the leaders of each KAMDA—Serang, Purwakarta, Cibiru, Sumedang, and Tasikmalaya—aiming to achieve their targets in line with their strategic plans and leadership periods. Various initiatives have been voiced to improve campus management in these regions. Since the inception of KAMDA, UPI’s leadership has consistently worked on improvements, whether in infrastructure, human resources, governance, or services, striving for parity. Modern buildings now stand, particularly under the leadership from 2019 to 2025.
The Smart Management System (SMS) program aims to achieve several goals, with regional campus governance being a priority through strategic leadership. Learning from global universities with similar regional campus conditions, such as Florida State University and Shongkla University in the 2000s, UPI established the Coordination and Development Agency for Regional Campuses (Bakorbang). This initiative aimed to achieve autonomy in regional campus governance, inspired by the “Multisite-Campus” concept. As a result, UPI’s successful management of regional campuses has attracted other prominent universities, like UNY, UNESA, and IPB University, to learn from UPI’s experience.
However, a long-held aspiration remains among regional campus leaders, known as Regional Campus Directors: achieving “equality.” The “Dribbling Satellite Campus” concept, emphasizing equality, suggests that UPI can become a vast university, akin to Bordeaux University in France, with campuses widespread. To enhance public perception of UPI’s presence everywhere, it is time for recognition and governance of campuses in major cities in West Java and Banten to be equalized. This would allow UPI to surpass other prominent universities.
How can the equality of UPI’s satellite campuses be achieved? The answer lies in courageous and intelligent strategic changes based on effective comparative studies, expert discussions, try-outs, and public tests. Drawing from UPI’s experience and utilizing the resources of the Board of Trustees (MWA), Academic Senate, and the current and future strategic plans, the aim is to elevate regional campuses to a level equivalent to faculties, without changing their names, but maintaining leadership by Directors. This is crucial, as discussed recently with USM Malaysia at UPI Cibiru, where it was recommended that the current management system should be retained with a focus on equality with faculties. This approach was endorsed by Assoc. Professor Lai Mee Thien from USM Malaysia in 2024, noting that UPI’s academic culture and programs are already strong. Thus, the term “Faculty of KAMDA” need not cause concern, as regional campuses might soon be upgraded in UPI’s legal documents to “UPI Cibiru,” “UPI Tasikmalaya,” “UPI Sumedang,” “UPI Purwakarta,” and “UPI Serang,” or referred to as Satellite Campuses, a term used by Gerald Gartner in 2000.
With this transformation, UPI could expand its reach, similar to Binus University’s multi-site approach. New ideas in the USA and Europe, like “One Village-One University,” are also emerging. Logically, managing these five regional campuses will require significant initial sacrifices. However, with UPI’s current strengths, we can “Dribble the Satellite Campus” effectively, achieving our goals swiftly, as envisioned by the Virtual Campus Distance Learning Network (VCDLN). Best wishes for health and success to all.
(This brief insight was presented to the leadership of the UPI Academic Senate at the last Plenary Session on June 21, 2024. I hope it proves beneficial. DD, June 2024).