Optimizing Indonesian Education Through National Standards: Implications for Engineering and Computer Science

This study examines the National Education Standards (NES) in the context of improving the quality of education in Indonesia. The research employs a quantitative approach, specifically path analysis, to test the relationship between various components of the Indonesian NES using eight key variables: content, process, graduate competencies, educators and educational staff, facilities and infrastructure, management, financing, and educational assessment. The population for this study consists of educational institutions across Indonesia, including primary and secondary levels. Data will be collected through accreditation documents, gathered from the National Accreditation Agency. The research findings indicate that management standards have a positive influence on evaluation, process, and content standards, underscoring the importance of effective management in promoting continuous improvement and aligning educational practices with desired outcomes. The standards for educational personnel were found to negatively impact evaluation standards, while infrastructure and facilities standards positively affected evaluation but negatively influenced process and content standards. Financing standards showed no significant influence on outcome standards. In enhancing graduate competency standards, content standards negatively impacted, while process and evaluation standards contributed positively. The study findings suggest that optimizing educational quality necessitates improving management standards, engaging teachers in professional development, ensuring efficient learning practices, and maintaining rigorous evaluation processes. When applied to engineering and computer science education, these findings can foster an environment of continuous learning and innovation, promote professional development for educators, highlight the need for well-equipped facilities, and emphasize the importance of aligning instructional practices with curricular goals, thereby preparing graduates to meet the challenges of the 21st century.