History

The Building Engineering Education Study Program (PS PTB) at Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED) is one of the long-standing programs within the Faculty of Engineering. It was officially established on May 17, 1984, based on the Decree of the Director General of Higher Education No. 30/DIKTI/Kep/1984. At that time, UNIMED was still known as IKIP Medan (Medan State Institute of Teacher Training and Education). The decree stipulated that IKIP Medan would have 6 faculties with 30 study programs, and PS PTB was among them, focusing on producing educators in the field of building engineering.

Entering its second decade, on July 11, 1996, the Directorate General of Higher Education conducted a reorganization and consolidation of study programs across public universities. Through Decree No. 240/DIKTI/Kep/1996, the number of study programs at IKIP Medan was reduced to only 20. During this consolidation, the Building Engineering Education Study Program was retained, indicating its national urgency and recognized quality.

In terms of accreditation, PS PTB has consistently demonstrated quality improvement. Based on the assessment by the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN-PT) in 2016, the program achieved an A (Excellent) rating through Decree No. 0190/SK/BAN-PT/Akred/S/IV/2016 dated April 15, 2016. This achievement was sustained; in 2021, after a renewal assessment, PS PTB again maintained its A accreditation through BAN-PT Decree No. 2191/SK/BAN-PT/Ak-PPJ/S/IV/2021 dated April 16, 2021. This consistent top rating reflects the program's commitment to maintaining and improving educational quality in terms of curriculum, learning processes, faculty, and facilities.

Since its inception, PS PTB UNIMED has been designed to produce competent graduates in Building Engineering Education, balancing technical construction skills (engineering) with pedagogical competencies (teacher training). Over time, the program has continuously adapted to contemporary demands. Its long-term vision is to become a leading and character-driven study program in building engineering education with global competitiveness by 2045. The scientific vision is to become a center of excellence in developing building engineering education based on innovation and research, integrating knowledge with character values.

According to its curriculum document, the graduate profiles of PS PTB are not limited to educators (vocational high school teachers or instructors) in specialization programs such as Building Maintenance, Civil Building Construction, Building Modeling and Information Design, and Geospatial Engineering. Graduates are also prepared to become laboratory staff/technicians, junior researchers, entrepreneurs in the construction sector (consultants or contractors), and technical professionals such as supervisors, draftspersons, surveyors, and quantity surveyors. This demonstrates that PS PTB UNIMED has long designed a flexible curriculum relevant to the needs of the business and industrial worlds (DUDI) as well as vocational education.

In line with national policies, PS PTB continuously evaluates and revises its curriculum. Initially, a KKNI (Indonesian National Qualifications Framework)-based curriculum was implemented to align learning outcomes with level 6 qualifications. Subsequently, in response to the "Merdeka Belajar – Kampus Merdeka" (Freedom to Learn – Independent Campus) policy from the Ministry of Education and Culture, the program developed an MBKM curriculum in 2020. Notably, PS PTB was one of the study programs at UNIMED to receive a Competitive Grant from the Ministry to develop the MBKM curriculum along with its implementation guidelines.

Furthermore, to ensure a measurable, student-centered orientation toward achievement, in 2025 (the document was prepared in December 2025), PS PTB officially implemented an Outcome-Based Education (OBE) Curriculum. This OBE curriculum was first applied to students of the 2023 cohort as a commitment to delivering measurable, transparent learning focused on graduate competency achievement. This curriculum is a revision of the previous one, developed based on internal evaluations and input from stakeholders, including alumni and industry.

Throughout its history, PS PTB has established extensive networks. Industry partners for internships (PKLI) include PT PP (Pembangunan Perumahan) Tbk, PT Hutama Karya, PT Ciputra Group, PT Razasa Karya, and dozens of other construction companies in North Sumatra. To strengthen teaching competencies, the program also collaborates with partner schools such as SMKN 2 Medan, SMKN 5 Medan, SMKN 14 Medan, SMKN 1 Percut Sei Tuan, and SMKN 1 Lubuk Pakam.

Thus, the history of PS PTB UNIMED is not merely a record of its founding year and accreditation but also a reflection of continuous adaptation to advances in science, technology, and labor market needs while remaining grounded in its identity as a leading Teacher Training Institution (LPTK).