Flexi-College Education to Anticipate Society 5.0 Accelerated by Covid-19 Pandemic Outbreak

Abstract

The current study was aimed at describing Flexi-College Education (FCE) recently launched by the Ministry of Education, the Republic of Indonesia as a revolutionary approach to anticipating a Society 5.0 while there is a blessing in disguise with Covid-19 Pandemic outbreak as a trigger. FCE has been in operation over the past two years under the term ‘Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka’ (MBKM) literally referred to as Flexible Learning Flexible Campus. An online survey was conducted as the basis of evaluation of the implementation of FCE in order for the educational authority to formulate a policy for the next college education system. A total sample of 10.505 students was chosen from Universitas Islam Sultan Agung Semarang (UNISSULA) despite only 8.600 responses. Indonesia, to find out their responses to the implementation of FCE.  The findings revealed the facts that most students responded positively to the said program. Therefore, to accommodate a better implementation of the program, we proposed a hybrid learning approach—a combination of the positive aspects found in both online and offline learning models. A hybrid class can be joined from both online and offline modes of learning. As an impact, hybrid learning shall be made right at the student intake processes. The study concludes that hybrid learning model is very ideal to be implemented in the post-Covid-19 Pandemic in support of the government’s FCE and as a barometer of new civilization. Educational institutions, therefore, shall provide sufficient digital infrastructure for the hybrid classes with the lecturers’ improved digital literacy.