UNIPMA — The Faculty of Law (FH) of Universitas PGRI Madiun (UNIPMA), in collaboration with the College of Criminology at Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST), Philippines, strengthened legal education through a comparative study visit to the Class II Madiun Probation and Correctional Center (Bapas) on Wednesday, October 28. The activity provided students and academics with an opportunity to learn firsthand about the practices of guidance and supervision for probation and correctional clients in Indonesia.

According to a report received by the UNIPMA Public Relations Team, the activity, themed “Strengthening Collaboration in Criminal Justice, Corrections, and Legal Education,” served as a platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences regarding correctional systems in Indonesia and the Philippines.

The delegation was led by FH UNIPMA Dean Dr. Siska Diana Sari, S.H., M.H., accompanied by Study Program Head Dr. Sulistya Eviningrum, S.H., M.H., faculty members, students, and delegates from NEUST Philippines. The delegation was welcomed by Madiun Probation and Correctional Center Head Siti Sunariyah and her staff.

During the discussion session, both parties explored the mechanisms for supervising and guiding correctional clients, social reintegration programs, and the implementation of rehabilitation and supervision for clients outside correctional institutions. Experiences from both countries served as comparative references to identify similarities, differences, and challenges in implementing correctional systems.

This exchange of perspectives also bridged academic studies with practical field experience. As a result, students and academics gained a deeper understanding of how guidance and supervision approaches are implemented within different legal and social contexts.

FH UNIPMA Dean Dr. Siska Diana Sari, S.H., M.H., emphasized that collaboration between higher education institutions and correctional institutions plays a vital role in delivering practical legal education that is relevant to professional needs.

“Collaboration between higher education institutions and correctional institutions plays an important role in developing practical knowledge. Through this activity, students, academics, and practitioners can exchange perspectives and deepen their understanding of the systems for rehabilitating, guiding, and supervising correctional clients at both national and international levels,” she stated.

Madiun Probation and Correctional Center Head Siti Sunariyah also welcomed the initiative. According to her, cross-border knowledge exchange can create opportunities to improve service quality and strengthen the implementation of correctional duties.

“Through the exchange of knowledge with the College of Criminology at NEUST Philippines and the Faculty of Law at UNIPMA, we hope to gain new perspectives to improve service quality, strengthen supervision, and support the successful social reintegration of correctional clients,” Siti Sunariyah explained.

Similar appreciation was expressed by Dr. Floralyn L. Doquilla from the College of Criminology at NEUST Philippines. She noted that the visit provided the delegation with an opportunity to gain firsthand insight into correctional practices in Indonesia, particularly those aimed at supporting behavioral change and preparing clients to return to society.

“This exchange of experiences provides both parties with an opportunity to learn about the approaches used to support behavioral change among clients, ensure compliance with applicable regulations, and prepare them for reintegration into society,” she remarked.

Through this initiative, the participating institutions are expected to use cross-country experiences as a basis for developing more effective guidance and supervision approaches, enhancing the professionalism of correctional officers, and strengthening the social reintegration of correctional clients.

The collaboration also forms part of the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi) and the Impactful Campus initiative through contextual learning and the strengthening of international academic networks. Furthermore, the activity aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals.