UNIPMA – Universitas PGRI Madiun (UNIPMA) has officially launched its Doctoral Program in Education (S3) after receiving operational approval from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek). A copy of the Ministerial Decree (SK) No. 677/B/O/2026 was symbolically presented by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Brian Yuliarto, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D., at Graha Cendekia on Saturday (July 11).

The ceremony was attended by the Head of the Higher Education Service Institution (LLDIKTI) Region VII East Java, Prof. Dr. Dyah Sawitri, S.E., M.M., UNIPMA Rector Dr. Supri Wahyudi Utomo, M.Pd., members of the university senate, heads of institutional units, as well as hundreds of lecturers and education staff.

Following the event, Prof. Brian Yuliarto stated that the establishment of the doctoral program marks an important milestone in UNIPMA's institutional development. However, he emphasized that the operational permit must be accompanied by a strong commitment to improving educational quality and human resource development.

"I have seen that UNIPMA's internal management, facilities, and academic infrastructure are already well established. The next step is for the foundation and university leadership to continue encouraging lecturers to pursue higher academic qualifications so that the doctoral program can continue to grow stronger," he said.

In addition to strengthening academic quality, Prof. Brian urged the university to ensure that doctoral research focuses on addressing real challenges faced by the community. This aligns with the ministry's Impactful Campus policy, which encourages higher education institutions to produce research with tangible societal benefits.

"Doctoral dissertations should not end as academic documents. Research must provide solutions to real issues in the region, ranging from waste management and urban planning to improving the quality of teachers in Madiun and its surrounding areas," he added.

Responding to the minister's remarks, UNIPMA Rector Dr. Supri Wahyudi Utomo affirmed the university's readiness to carry out the mandate of the new Doctoral Program in Education by continuously strengthening lecturer qualifications and institutional governance.

According to Dr. Supri, improving lecturers' academic competencies has been one of the university's long-term commitments. To support this goal, UNIPMA consistently allocates internal funding each year to finance doctoral studies for lecturers who have not yet received government scholarships.

"Every year, we allocate a dedicated budget to support lecturers pursuing doctoral education, especially those who have not obtained government scholarships. This is a long-term investment in strengthening UNIPMA's academic quality," he explained.

He believes that the establishment of the Doctoral Program in Education will strengthen UNIPMA's competitiveness among higher education institutions. With more doctoral-qualified lecturers and stronger institutional governance, the university is optimistic about enhancing its competitiveness in securing strategic programs and government grants.

"This doctoral program is an important asset for UNIPMA's continued growth. We are committed to providing quality education while strengthening the university's contribution to society," Dr. Supri concluded.