Following up on joint discussions regarding the cooperation agreement between the Department of Civil Engineering and Planning Education, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (JPTSP FT UNY) and the Dewan Pimpinan Propinsi Ikatan Nasional Tenaga Ahli Konsultan Indonesia Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DPP Intakindo DIY), on December 2, 2020, 21 JPTSP FT UNY lecturers were declared to have passed and were entitled to receive certificates of expertise (SKA), after carrying out written exams and online interviews from 26th to 20th November 2020 in various fields of construction work such as: building engineering experts, building care and maintenance, management construction, water resources, environmental engineering, road engineering, bridge engineering and urban and regional planning.

Discussion on cooperation between the Management of JPTSP FT UNY and DPP Intakindo DIY on November 17 2020 created agreement on several activities including: Improving the qualifications and competence of JPTSP academic staff through expertise certification activities in the field of construction services, implementation of industrial practice and internships, issuance of periodic joint scientific publications, and joint education and training activities and seminars. This cooperation agreement is expected to provide benefits for both parties, both in supporting the implementation of the “Tridharma” of higher education and the implementation of sustainable professional development programs.

This collaboration is expected to increase the readiness of JPTSP FT UNY in implementing the Kurikulum Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka, where it is increasingly recognized that the expertise of prospective professional workers cannot be achieved only through learning in college. Collaboration between higher education institutions and professional associations such as Intakindo, is expected to direct JPTSP FT UNY to be better prepared to deal with employment problems in the field of construction services and increase the relevance of higher education where the responsibility for creating a superior workforce for bachelor's degrees is not only the responsibility educational institutions only, but all involved in the labor industry.