THE INDONESIAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MOBILITY AWARDS (IISMA) PROGRAMME OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE, RESEARCH, AND TECHNOLOGY AT POLITEKNIK NEGERI PONTIANAK

Abstract

This study examines the implementation of the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) programme at Politeknik Negeri Pontianak (Polnep) as part of Indonesia’s national strategy to internationalise vocational higher education. The research addresses the issue of suboptimal implementation at the institutional level, despite strong support from national policies such as Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM). The study aims to describe how 
IISMA is implemented at Polnep, to identify the key challenges faced during its execution, and to propose alternative strategies for enhancing its effectiveness. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, data were collected through interviews with three key informants, Head of International Affairs Office, a representative from the Host University, and a student awardee, as well as through document analysis. The findings reveal that several obstacles hinder the programme’s effective implementation, including inconsistent comprehension of policies across departments, one-way communication practices, limited human resources, and the absence of an integrated bureaucratic framework. Moreover, overlapping authority and unclear division of responsibilities among units further impede internal coordination. In response to these challenges, this study proposes several strategic recommendations, including the reinforcement 
of inter-unit coordination, the development of internal guidelines for credit transfer, the establishment of structured mentoring systems, and the formation of a dedicated team to manage international mobility programmes. These measures are expected to enhance the effectiveness, fairness, and sustainability of IISMA implementation at Polnep, supporting broader efforts to strengthen the internationalisation of Indonesia’s vocational education sector.