Aceh – Indonesia, Ar-Raniry State Islamic University (UIN) Banda Aceh is encouraging its students to obtain competency certificates standardized by the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) to prepare them for the workforce. The certificates are viewed as essential supplements to academic diplomas, providing proof of skills tailored to their respective fields or study programs.
Rektor of UIN Ar-Raniry, Prof. Mujiburrahman, stated that competency certification demands serious attention, as today’s job market requires not only academic qualifications but also practical skills verified through competency assessments.
“What employers ask for is a competency certificate in their respective fields. That is what will give our students added value,” Mujiburrahman said during a competency certification socialization session with faculty and department leaders in the rector’s meeting room on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
According to him, providing competency certification is part of the university’s obligation to prepare career-ready graduates. Therefore, UIN Ar-Raniry has requested faculties and study programs to actively promote this certification to students.
“We hope that all of our students will earn a competency certificate to accompany their diploma, aligned with their study programs or areas of expertise,” he added.
Director of the UIN Ar-Raniry Professional Certification Body (LSP), Khatib A Latief MLIS, explained that diplomas and competency certificates serve different yet complementary roles when graduates enter the job market.
“A diploma signifies academic qualification achieved through the learning process, whereas a competency certificate provides formal evidence of technical expertise within a specific scope,” said Khatib.
UIN Ar-Raniry aims for at least 0.5 percent of its graduates to hold BNSP-standardized competency certificates. This target is integrated into the Key Performance Indicators (IKU) of the university leadership.
Currently, LSP UIN Ar-Raniry has developed 23 certification schemes, nine of which have already been licensed by the BNSP.
These nine schemes include Level IV Industrial Entrepreneurship, Instructional Strategy and Method Design, Level IV General Banking, Level 3 Library Qualifications, Community Empowerment Facilitator, Assistant Web Developer, Variable Regulation Implementation, Technology Business Incubator Event Planning, and Administrative Management.
LSP UIN Ar-Raniry also boasts 24 BNSP-certified competency assessors and seven independent Competency Assessment Centers (TUK). Additionally, the LSP has prepared 32 standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support governance, quality assurance, and impartiality throughout the certification process.
Khatib noted that the LSP has proposed a competency assessment fee of IDR 300,000 per candidate for each scheme. This fee is currently awaiting official approval from the Rector of UIN Ar-Raniry.
He explained that the fee was determined by considering the socio-economic capacity of students and benchmarked against LSPs at other state Islamic higher education institutions.
“The LSP does not replace higher education; rather, it serves as a strengthening mechanism. We need synergy from faculties and study programs so that this certification system operates in a relevant, high-quality, and sustainable manner,” Khatib concluded.