University-Wide Support for Underrepresented Groups

Universitas Islam Sultan Agung (UNISSULA) provides mentoring, counselling, and peer-support mechanisms to support members of the university community, including students, lecturers, and staff from underrepresented or potentially underrepresented groups.

The university combines professional counselling services with student-led peer-support and development programmes. These mechanisms are intended to reduce barriers, strengthen academic and personal well-being, and provide additional support to members of the university community who may face financial, social, psychological, or other challenges.

Peer Support for Economically Disadvantaged Students

One of UNISSULA’s key peer-support mechanisms is the Forum Bidikmisi dan KIP-K Sultan Agung (FORBISA).

FORBISA provides a student community for recipients of Bidikmisi and Kartu Indonesia Pintar Kuliah (KIP Kuliah), programmes that support students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The forum provides a space for scholarship recipients to interact, exchange information, support one another, and participate in activities aimed at academic and non-academic development.

This peer-based structure helps students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds develop social connections and access support within the university community.

FORBISA as a Peer-Support Community

FORBISA functions as more than a scholarship-recipient association.

Its activities provide opportunities for:

• peer interaction;
• information sharing;
• student development;
• academic and non-academic support;
• organisational participation;
• leadership development; and
• strengthening solidarity among KIP Kuliah and Bidikmisi recipients.

The existence of a dedicated community for scholarship recipients helps reduce isolation and creates a structured peer network for students who may face financial or social barriers to participation in higher education.

Public information about FORBISA identifies it as the Forum Bidikmisi dan KIP-K Sultan Agung, representing recipients of these scholarship programmes at UNISSULA. UKM/UKIM UNISSULA

Student Development and Community Activities

FORBISA organises activities that strengthen interaction and solidarity among KIP Kuliah and Bidikmisi recipients.

Examples documented through FORBISA activities include:

• organisational gatherings;
• student development activities;
• study visits and institutional exchanges;
• social and community activities;
• religious and cultural activities;
• recognition of student achievement; and
• peer interaction among scholarship recipients.

These activities provide opportunities for students to build networks, develop confidence, exchange experiences, and support one another.

FORBISA Anniversary and Student Recognition

UNISSULA’s FORBISA community also holds institutional gatherings such as the FORBISA Anniversary (HARLAH FORBISA).

The activity brings together scholarship recipients and provides opportunities for participation, recognition, and community development.

Such activities strengthen the sense of belonging among students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and create opportunities for peer engagement beyond formal academic settings.

Peer Interaction and Organisational Development

FORBISA also provides students with opportunities to develop organisational and communication skills.

Student-led activities encourage participants to:

• work collaboratively;
• develop leadership skills;
• communicate with peers;
• organise programmes;
• participate in institutional activities; and
• build supportive networks.

These functions are particularly valuable for students who may require additional social and institutional support during their university experience.

Study Visits and Peer Learning

FORBISA activities include opportunities for study visits and exchanges with other student communities.

These activities allow students to share organisational practices, learn from peers, exchange ideas, and build wider networks.

The study-visit activities therefore provide another form of peer learning and development for scholarship recipients.

Social and Community Support Activities

FORBISA also organises social activities that strengthen relationships among members.

Activities such as collective gatherings and community programmes provide informal opportunities for students to interact, share experiences, and strengthen peer relationships.

These activities contribute to a supportive environment in which scholarship recipients can maintain connections with students who share similar experiences.

Professional Counselling for Students

In addition to peer support, UNISSULA provides professional counselling and psychological services for students.

The university provides access to mental-health support, counselling, psychological services, and guidance for personal, social, academic, emotional, and psychological concerns.

Professional psychological support is available through the Badan Konsultasi Psikologi & Pembangunan Masyarakat (BKP2M) under the Faculty of Psychology.

Services include:

• psychological assessment;
• personal consultation;
• psychological counselling;
• mental-health education;
• human-resource development training; and
• mental-health outreach.

Multiple Student Counselling Channels

UNISSULA provides several channels through which students can access support.

These include:

• professional psychological services;
• counselling and guidance services;
• academic advisers;
• faculty support;
• online counselling portals; and
• WhatsApp counselling.

The availability of multiple channels helps reduce barriers to accessing support and allows students to seek assistance through the mechanism most appropriate to their circumstances.

Academic and Personal Guidance

Student support at UNISSULA also includes academic and personal guidance.

Academic advisers can identify students experiencing difficulties and refer them to appropriate counselling or psychological services where necessary.

The university monitors academic and non-academic student development so that students facing challenges can receive appropriate guidance and intervention.

This creates an additional mentoring and support pathway alongside formal counselling services.

Accessible and Free Student Support

Where provided through university-supported services, counselling and student-support access is available free of charge to UNISSULA students.

This reduces financial barriers to:

• counselling;
• initial consultation;
• mental-health guidance;
• student-support services; and
• referral to appropriate professional assistance.

This is particularly relevant for economically disadvantaged students, including KIP Kuliah recipients, because financial circumstances do not need to prevent access to support.

Counselling Support for Lecturers and Staff

UNISSULA’s counselling provision extends beyond students.

Lecturers and university staff also have access to professional mental-health support, psychological consultation, counselling, and well-being services.

The services are intended to address:

• psychological concerns;
• emotional difficulties;
• personal problems;
• social challenges;
• workplace-related concerns; and
• other issues affecting well-being.

Professional Support through BKP2M for Staff

BKP2M also serves lecturers and staff.

Available services include:

• psychological assessment;
• consultation;
• psychological counselling;
• mental-health education;
• human-resource development training; and
• outreach.

This means UNISSULA provides an institutional support mechanism for both academic and non-academic staff.

Multiple Access Channels for Staff and Faculty

Lecturers and staff may access counselling through:

• professional psychological services;
• direct consultation with counsellors;
• faculty or university support channels;
• telephone;
• email; and
• other digital communication channels where available.

This multi-channel approach helps make professional support accessible across the university community.

Supporting Underrepresented Members of the University Community

UNISSULA’s counselling and peer-support mechanisms are available within the university’s wider inclusion framework.

This means that students, lecturers, and staff from underrepresented or potentially underrepresented groups can access university support services where needed.

For economically disadvantaged students, FORBISA provides a particularly relevant targeted peer-support mechanism.

For other members of the university community, professional counselling and psychological support provide an accessible institutional pathway for addressing personal, academic, social, emotional, or workplace difficulties.

Relationship with KIP Kuliah Support

FORBISA complements UNISSULA’s broader KIP Kuliah access and financial-support system.

While KIP Kuliah reduces financial barriers to higher education, FORBISA creates a community and peer-support structure for scholarship recipients after admission.

The combined approach can therefore be represented as:

Financial access → Admission → Scholarship support → Peer community → Student development

This extends support beyond tuition or financial assistance alone.

Relationship with Equality and Inclusion

UNISSULA’s mentoring, counselling and peer-support mechanisms also complement its wider equality and inclusion framework.

Students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, students with disabilities, international students, and other potentially underrepresented groups may require different forms of academic, social, psychological, or peer support.

By maintaining professional counselling services and student peer-support programmes, UNISSULA provides multiple pathways through which these needs can be addressed.

Integrated Support Framework

UNISSULA’s support framework can be summarised as:

Professional counselling + Academic guidance + Peer support + Student development + Financial-support community

This integrated approach enables different members of the university community to access support appropriate to their circumstances.

For KIP Kuliah and Bidikmisi students, FORBISA provides a targeted peer community.

For students more broadly, counselling, academic advisers, and psychological services provide professional support.

For lecturers and staff, BKP2M and related services provide psychological counselling and well-being support.

Evidence of Implementation

UNISSULA’s mentoring, counselling and peer-support provision is demonstrated through the following institutional evidence:

1. FORBISA (Forum Bidikmisi dan KIP-K Sultan Agung) as a dedicated student community for Bidikmisi and KIP Kuliah scholarship recipients. UKM/UKIM UNISSULA
2. Peer interaction and student-development activities for economically disadvantaged scholarship recipients.
3. Organisational, social, and student-development activities supporting KIP Kuliah and Bidikmisi students.
4. FORBISA anniversary activities strengthening community and peer interaction.
5. Study visits and peer-learning activities supporting networking and organisational development.
6. Professional student counselling through BKP2M Faculty of Psychology.
7. Faculty-based counselling and guidance services for students.
8. Student access to academic advisers, online counselling portals, and WhatsApp counselling.
9. Regular monitoring and guidance relating to academic and non-academic student development.
10. Free access to university-supported counselling services for students where applicable.
11. Professional psychological counselling and consultation for lecturers and staff through BKP2M.
12. Mental-health education, consultation, referral, and well-being support for staff and faculty.