Towards the end of the year, on November 15-16, 2018, the Statistics Polytechnic (Polstat) of the Indonesian Islamic University (STIS) visited two leading universities in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY): the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM). The visit was conducted as a comparative study of the Polstat STIS Center for Research and Community Service (PPPM) regarding work programs, research and community service management, and to establish collaboration plans with similar units at both universities. The Polstat STIS Information Technology (IT) Unit also conducted a comparative study on data management and information technology management business processes.

After landing at Adisutjipto International Airport, the Polstat STIS delegation, led by Setia Pramana, Ph.D. (Head of PPPM Polstat STIS), headed directly to the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) on Jalan Kaliurang. The first visit was to the Directorate of Research and Community Service (DPPM), located in the UII Golden Dome Mosque Building. During this visit, the group consisting of the Secretary of PPPM (Neli Agustina, M.Si), Head of the Social Statistics Study Unit (Dr. Tiodora Hadumaon Siagian, M. Pop. Hum. Res), Head of the Statistical Computing Study Unit (Siti Mariyah, SST, M.T) and two members of the IT Unit (Farid Ridho, M.T and Siskarossa Ika Oktora, SST, M.Stat) were received and warmly welcomed by Feris Firdaus, S.Si, M.Sc (Secretary of DPPM UII) and his staff. In the discussion, Feris revealed that currently UII is included in the 24 universities in the independent level cluster. UII's entry into the highest cluster in the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti) is not an easy achievement. One of the factors determining whether a university falls into a cluster (mentored, middle, main, or independent) is the number of research publications in international and accredited journals, as well as the number of books published by lecturers. Therefore, the DPPM (Department of Research and Community Service) provides comprehensive guidance to lecturers regarding research. This guidance is also used by lecturers as a stepping stone to conducting research managed by the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education. DPPM UII focuses not only on research production but also on patent processing, student Community Service Programs (KKN), and community service (abdimas). The target of this abdimas, which involves the diffusion of science and technology, is not limited to local governments but also to business units and assisted villages.

The next comparative study was conducted at the Statistics Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UII. The sharing session, coordinated by Dr. Edy Widodo, M.Si (Head of the Statistics Study Program at UII), discussed an overview of the curriculum and the profile of the targeted graduates. This discussion specifically also discussed the possibility of collaboration in the field of disaster statistics and big data with Polstat STIS. Disaster Management Statistics (SMK) is one of the concentrations of interest in the Statistics Study Program alongside Actuarial, Business and Social, Industry, and Data Science. The formation of the SMK is based on the fact that the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) is familiar with disasters due to the activity of Mount Merapi. In addition, Dr. Raden Bagus Fajriya Hakim, S.Si, M.Si, Executive Secretary of the UII Rector who previously served as the Head of the UII Statistics Study Program, said that currently the Statistics Study Program is also concerned with the development of Big Data material. This is because the biggest impact of Big Data is statistics. The increasing need for data scientists in the world in various fields of life also motivates the Statistics Study Program to produce graduates who excel in statistics and computing.

As a multidisciplinary institution with members from various faculties at UGM, the biggest challenge for this study center is coordination. Pande explained that the key to the institution's survival and adoption by all units within the Polstat STIS is disciplined institutional management, extensive and family-based connections, a spirit of institutional development, and the development of cadres from previous leaders.

The comparative study concluded with a visit to the UGM Directorate of Information Systems and Resources (DSSDI). The Polstat STIS delegation was welcomed by the Director of DSSDI, Widyawan, ST, M.Sc, Ph.D. Information sharing was then conducted by Triyogatama Wahyu Widodo, M.Kom (DSSDI Secretary), Agung Ariansyah, M.Cs (Head of the Infrastructure and Security Sub-Directorate), and M. Zudha Ghofur, ST, M.Cs (Head of the Media Application and Communication Sub-Directorate). The comparative study focused on discussions regarding data center development, UGM's network/connectivity management, and the information systems and technology managed by DSSDI to support business processes at UGM. Agung also provided information about the hardware and software used to support the relevant work units. Interestingly, DSSDI also provides a key service, a blog facility, for UGM students.

This comparative study is expected to provide information and inspiration for Polstat STIS, particularly the PPPM (Student Information and Communication Technology) and its staff, along with the IT Unit, in supporting future performance. Furthermore, the Social Statistics Study Unit and the Statistical Computing Study Unit utilized the comparative study to initiate collaborative plans with several units within the two universities. The follow-up to this comparative study is expected to bring significant benefits to Polstat STIS.