The international accreditation body ACQUIN (The Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute) conducted a visitation to the Library and Archives of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on Tuesday, 9 December 2025. The visit was part of the accreditation assessment for 19 study programs from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, and the Graduate School. This agenda positioned the library as one of the key facilities that reflects the academic quality of the university.
As a Germany-based accreditation agency, ACQUIN evaluates various academic support components, including the library, which serves as the university’s central knowledge hub. The visitation also provided an opportunity to observe how library facilities and services support academic and research activities across the institution.
The ACQUIN assessment team was received by Safirotu Khoir, Ph.D., Coordinator for Public Relations and International Affairs, along with the welcoming team from the UGM Library and Archives. She emphasized the library’s commitment to providing services that meet the needs of the academic community. “Our library services fully support student activities by offering a wide range of accessible and well-equipped facilities designed to enhance productive learning,” she stated.
Also present at the reception were Wahyu Supriyanto, S.E., M.Si., Head of the Library Division, and Yulistiarini
Kumaraningrum, S.P., MM., Head of the Data and Information Systems Division of the Library and Archives, who accompanied the visitation process.
The ACQUIN visitation began at the lobby of the UGM Library and Archives before continuing to several key facilities. The assessment team toured The Gade Creative Lounge (TGCL), one of the most popular study spaces among students, followed by a visit to the archival diorama, discussion rooms, and the podcast studio, which serves as a creative space supporting academic expression and collaboration.
Through this on-site review, ACQUIN obtained a comprehensive picture of how a modern library functions not merely as a collection space, but as an integrated learning ecosystem that fosters collaboration, creativity, and knowledge exchange.
This strategic role aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), which highlights the importance of inclusive learning facilities and equitable access to quality education; SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), which promotes transparency and sustainability in institutional governance; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), which strengthens global collaboration to enhance educational quality and the exchange of best practices across nations.
The ACQUIN visitation serves as valuable momentum for the UGM Library and Archives to continue advancing service innovation and reinforcing its role as the intellectual core of the university. This effort enhances academic quality and strengthens UGM’s contribution to expanding access to knowledge for the broader community.
Contributor: Wasilatul Baroroh