Medan, August 10, 2026 — The Diploma Program in Metrology and Instrumentation continues to strengthen its collaboration with the Metrology Legal Standardization Center I Medan (BSML) to support the improvement of student competencies, laboratory development, and the alignment of academic learning with workforce and industry needs.
One form of collaboration is the implementation of practical sessions for the Physical Quantity Systems and Calibration Standards course, which involve the use of laboratories at BSML. The activity is expected to provide students with a more applied learning experience while introducing them directly to metrology and calibration practices in a professional work environment.
To strengthen the learning and laboratory systems, BSML has also requested the ISO/IEC 17025 document, which serves as one of the references for laboratory management and accreditation. The document will serve as learning material and a reference for the Study Program in developing a laboratory management system that complies with competency standards for testing and calibration laboratories.
In addition, the Diploma Program in Metrology and Instrumentation will conduct data collection and an inventory of available laboratory equipment. The results will serve as a basis for determining the direction of laboratory development. In the future, the metrology and calibration laboratory within the vocational education environment is expected to be developed into a Calibration Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) as part of the Study Program's Teaching Factory (TEFA) initiative.
As part of this development, BSML Regional I has expressed its willingness to review the vocational laboratory and provide input regarding the scope of laboratory development based on the availability and capabilities of the existing equipment. The laboratory will initially be directed to provide limited services. Following a trial service period of approximately six months, the laboratory will be prepared to apply for accreditation from the National Accreditation Committee (KAN) within a scope that meets the applicable requirements.
The Study Program also plans to organize a metrology and standardization workshop featuring BSML representatives as speakers. The BSML Regional I team has suggested that the Study Program consider offering a dedicated course or learning module on ISO/IEC 17025 to strengthen students' understanding of laboratory standards and management systems.
The collaboration will also be expanded through a student internship program at BSML. BSML Regional I has agreed to assign a Metrology Supervisor or Senior Metrologist as a guest lecturer/practitioner to deliver specialized materials, particularly those related to the testing of UTTP (Alat-alat Ukur, Takar, Timbang, dan Perlengkapannya / measuring, measuring-container, weighing, and related equipment) in industrial and specialized fields.
At present, the metrology and calibration laboratories within the vocational education environment are also being reactivated and developed gradually. The inventory of laboratory equipment is an initial step toward mapping existing capabilities while determining a realistic service scope that corresponds with the available human resources and facilities.
Meanwhile, the BSML laboratory itself has a limited scope covering calibration, verification (tera), and re-verification (tera ulang) activities within legal metrology, including weighing instruments, stopwatches, temperature, and volumetric measurements. This scope may serve as a reference for the Study Program in determining the focus of its educational laboratory development.
Through this series of collaborations, the Diploma Program in Metrology and Instrumentation is expected to produce graduates with standardized metrology competencies that are relevant to workforce needs. Competency development through formal education, including an understanding of standards such as ISO/IEC 17025, is expected to strengthen the recognition of graduates' professional competencies in the field of metrology.
Going forward, the synergy among the Study Program, BSML, and BSML Regional I is expected not only to strengthen the learning process but also to create opportunities to develop the educational laboratory into a center for metrology services and learning that supports industry needs while producing competent and competitive human resources.