Indonesia
Malang (March 16) – Unisma’s Postgraduate Director has developed a distinctive approach to attracting new students, one that has become a key asset in building public trust in Unisma’s Postgraduate Program.
This approach emerged as part of a broader update and progress report the Director delivered to Unisma’s Rector and university leadership on the program’s ongoing development.
As usual, Prof. M. Mas’ud Said presented a full picture of the academic landscape, recent achievements, development plans, and strategies for growing student enrollment.
Widely recognized for his communicative style, Mas’ud Said walked the Rector and Deputy Rectors through the program’s progress and outcomes. Before wrapping up, the Rector asked him to elaborate specifically on the communication strategies driving this innovation.
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Mas’ud explained that every communication channel has been put to use: appearing as a guest on radio, national and private television, and maintaining active website content, all alongside traditional methods like distributing leaflets and traveling to different regions to recruit students directly.
But what explains the rise in new postgraduate enrollment even amid the pandemic? Mas’ud pointed to one key tactic: mobilizing social media and keeping communication channels genuinely open. He maintains a dedicated team for this effort, while positioning himself as an ambassador for every study program.
“Pak Mas’ud Said is remarkable. He’s constantly innovating, I never imagined he’d personally reach out to students and their parents like this,” said Dr. Sumartono, MP, Head of the Animal Husbandry Study Program.
On Monday, March 15, 2021, accompanied by the Animal Husbandry Program Head, Mas’ud Said, who also chairs a division of MUI East Java, visited 2021 graduates of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and put his signature approach into action. Mid-speech, he interjected: “Any new graduate who needs help reaching out to their parents, or convincing them to continue on to a master’s degree, I’ll personally take care of it,” he said.
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Several students took him up on the offer immediately, drawn by the prospect of fresh encouragement and inspiration. The following day, a number of parents reported feeling genuinely pleased to receive a direct call from the Postgraduate Director himself, describing the gesture as a uniquely personal touch.
Sumartono, Head of the Master’s in Animal Husbandry Program, chimed in once again: “Professor, I’m fully behind this. It’s a genuinely promising initiative, starting with Animal Husbandry, hopefully it delivers outstanding results across every program,” he added.
Below is an excerpt of Mas’ud’s message to one student’s parent:
“With your permission, sir. This is M. Mas’ud Said, Director of Unisma’s Postgraduate Program.
Congratulations! your daughter has successfully completed her bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry.
We would like to invite her to continue her studies at the master’s level in Animal Husbandry at Unisma. We met her recently at the graduation ceremony and offered her the opportunity to continue with a 25 percent tuition discount.
She can register with support from the Study Program Head, Dr. Sumartono.
I hope you and your family remain in good health and blessed with abundance. May your daughter go on to become part of the finest generation.
Warm regards,
M. Mas’ud Said
Director, Unisma Postgraduate Program”
The parent responded shortly after:
“Wa’alaikumsalam warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Thank you for your support. God willing, she’ll continue to her master’s degree, may the knowledge she gains be beneficial and blessed, amiin.”
Most parents responded with genuine warmth, and fathers in particular proved highly receptive, often enrolling their daughters directly into the master’s program.
So beyond the managerial approach, Mas’ud occasionally reaches for his most effective tool of all: personal, one-on-one communication. (MMS/AL/PPS)
