UMKT and APTFI Host OSCE Assessor Training to Elevate Pharmacy Competency Standards

umkt.ac.id, Samarinda – The Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur (UMKT), in collaboration with the Association of Indonesian Pharmacy Higher Education (APTFI), successfully conducted training for Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) assessors on Saturday (31/1) and Sunday (1/2). Held in the General Sudirman Building (Building G), the program was designed to elevate the quality of professional pharmacist graduates and standardize competency testing across the region.

The training was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Head of the Professional Pharmacist Study Program, and various expert facilitators. On the first day, participants engaged in a comprehensive deep dive into the OSCE framework, focusing on blueprint development, question drafting, and the specific roles and responsibilities of assessors. Additionally, participants were briefed on the rigorous national standards required for an ideal OSCE environment.

Tri Budi Julianti, M.Si., Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, expressed her high regard for the initiative, noting that the OSCE is an indispensable evaluation method for ensuring graduate readiness.

“I deeply appreciate this collaborative effort. The OSCE is a vital evaluation tool because it provides an objective and systematic assessment of a student’s clinical skills. We expect this training to align the perceptions of our assessors, thereby ensuring that every examination is conducted according to established national standards,” Tri stated.

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. apt. Hanni Prihastuti, S.Si., M.Si., M.Phil., Ph.D., representing APTFI, emphasized that the success of any OSCE depends on the quality of its assessors. Furthermore, guest speaker Dr. apt. Dika Pramita, M.Farm., explained that the training ensures all assessors possess a unified understanding of national benchmarks.

“Our primary goal is to prepare assessors to meet national standards of excellence. The quality of assessment is the deciding factor in determining a candidate's competency. Through this training, we aim to put all assessors on the same page so that results remain objective, significant, and legally defensible,” Dr. Dika added.

The second day of the program transitioned into hands-on OSCE simulations and reflective evaluation sessions. These simulations provided participants with practical experience in managing the exam flow and technicalities, allowing for real-time feedback and skill refinement.

Through this strategic partnership with APTFI, UMKT reaffirms its commitment to improving the quality of pharmacy education in Indonesia. By ensuring that competency evaluations are objective, standardized, and quality-oriented, UMKT continues to take significant steps in producing highly competent healthcare professionals ready to serve the community.

Reporter: Raisha Azzahro

Translator: M. Rafly Raihandy